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ONE OF THE REPORTERS BROUGHT A CAMERA AND TOOK 
billy’s PICTURE ” 


(See page 85) 


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Copyright, 1922, 

By The Page Company 


All rights reserved 


Made in U. S. A. 


First Impression, August, 1922 



PRINTED BY C. H. SIMONDS COMPANY 
BOSTON, MASS., U. S. A. 


AUG 30 1922 

©CLA6830 3 7 

"W. e> ^ 


TO MY NIECES 

MARY AND MARGARET VERHOEFF 


















































































































’ 














































































CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I The Arrival of Constance ... i 

II The New Companion 16 

III Billy 30 

IV Mrs. Thomson’s Mistake . ... 54 

V Billy Becomes a Hero 80 

VI A New Plan 96 

VII The Band of Mercy 112 

VIII Another Stray Kitten . . . .132 

IX Elisabeth is Grieved 156 

X George’s Revenge 185 

XI Billy’s Return 209 

XII Letters for Elisabeth .... 226 

XIII “The Dearwas” 242 

XIV A New Side to Cousin Anne . . 266 

XV The Horrid Secret 287 

XVI The Storm 303 

XVII Good News for All 322 

XVIII Another Meeting 328 

XIX Love Me, Love My Dog .... 338 
































































































































































































LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

“ One of the reporters brought a camera and 
took Billy’s picture.” (See page 8$) Frontispiece 
“ Billy submitted to being dressed” ... 38 

“ Again offered Mr. Thompson his paw ”. . 53 

“ ‘ Billy and I go to the kitchen, and she 
tells us stories ’ ” 164 

“ Billy gravely offered his paw ”... 274 
“ Elizabeth explained in a few words ” . *315 



3Love tffrc, %ove 

CHAPTER I 

THE ARRIVAL OF CONSTANCE 

T HE Thomsons left their home in 
the far south and came to live in 
Louisville, in the great white 
house just three doors from the Lewis’s. 
Mrs. Thomson and Mrs. Lewis had been 
best friends from their earliest childhood. 
They were happy to be together once more 
and glad that their little daughters could 
meet and form what would surely be a life 
long friendship of their own. 

At first all went well. Emily welcomed 
Constance with unbounded enthusiasm, 
finding her even more attractive than she 
had anticipated. Proudly she introduced 


1 


2 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

her to the neighborhood, openly glorying in 
her new friend’s golden curls and beautiful 
face, as well as in her ability to invent and 
relate stories so exciting that they held the 
children spellbound. Emily was blissfully 
unaware that her air of possession rather 
irritated Constance, who was, however, 
pleased with her admiration and devotion. 

Both little girls were eleven years old, 
and though Constance’s birthday preceded 
Emily’s only six months, the little new- 
comer was considerably older in her ways. 
Emily was a little gypsy of a girl, with dark 
brown hair which no amount of coaxing 
could induce to curl, and eyes which shone 
like brown diamonds except when they 
grew soft with affection or sympathy. She 
preferred bloomers and overalls to “dress 
up” clothes and was as active and skillful 
in out door games as her brother Norman, 
older by two years. Constance, always 


ARRIVAL OF CONSTANCE 3 

tidy and unruffled in her dainty frocks, was 
frequently scandalized at Emily’s appear- 
ance, but at first she made no comments. 

For days Emily was absorbed in the new 
friendship. She saw to it that Constance 
was included in the neighborhood play and 
pleasures. She could not herself bear to be 
separated from Constance for the space of 
an afternoon. At home she conversed only 
of Constance until even Mrs. Lewis grew 
bored and Mr. Lewis and the two boys 
openly rebelled. 

Gradually the first enthusiasms subsided. 
Emily occasionally absented herself from 
Constance for a visit to Esther, her former 
chum, and regained a normal interest in 
other subjects of conversation. She went 
less frequently to the white house and re- 
mained a shorter time, sometimes returning 
home in a state of anger the cause of which 
she could not adequately explain. 


4 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Constance makes me tired,” she would 
exclaim to her mother, “ordering me about 
as if I were a baby and she were grown 
up!” 

Or, “Constance has more books, and 
games and toys than any girl I know, 
and she won’t let you touch a thing if 
she can help it. Before I’d be like 
that . . .” 

Another day. “Of course Esther and I 
can’t speak French and German. We 
never had governesses to teach us. Good- 
ness knows I’m glad we hadn’t if they 
would have made us like Constance. I 
don’t want her to read books to me that I 
can’t understand, and I don’t want to listen 
to her stories any more. She won’t listen 
to mine.” 

When Constance came to the Lewis’s 
such quarrels arose that Mrs. Lewis, who 
loved Constance next to her own children 


ARRIVAL OF CONSTANCE 5 

and had always regarded her as little less 
than perfect, was deeply grieved. 

“I don’t know what is the matter with 
you, Emily,” she remonstrated. “Other 
children come and you play happily with 
them for hours at a time, but lately, the 
moment you see Constance you begin to 
quarrel.” 

“Well, mother, even if Aunt Harriet is 
your best friend and Constance her child, 
I must say I never met anyone quite as ag- 
gravating. All the girls liked her at first 
and now nobody does.” 

“I thought you would stand by her 
throught thick and thin.” 

“You don’t know how hard I have tried. 
I thought of course we would be best friends 
like you and Aunt Harriet, but Constance 
doesn’t want to be friends. Yesterday, I 
gave her back the beautiful wrist watch like 
hers that she brought me, and told her she 


6 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

had better go home. I wish she would go 
on back south where she came from, though 
I’d miss her father. Next to Daddy I 
think he is the nicest man I ever knew. I 
don’t see how he and Aunt Harriet can 
have such a child.” 

Mrs. Lewis was so hurt that Emily prom- 
ised to go on trying to be friends with Con- 
stance and invited her to spend the after- 
noon with her and Esther. Constance 
came only because of her mother’s insist- 
ence and went home early, though, as Mrs. 
Lewis realized, Emily really did try to 
make her have a pleasant time. Emily 
gave her mother an account of the after- 
noon. 

“We started to play Sisters Going To A 
Ball. Constance took every decent thing 
to dress up in for herself, and left almost 
nothing for Esther and me. I didn’t say a 
word about that. Then Esther opened her 


ARRIVAL OF CONSTANCE 7 

box of jewels from the ten cent store. We 
started to divide them as we always do but 
Constance took the whole box full and put 
them on herself and said instead of play- 
ing Sisters we’d play Queen and she’d 
be the queen and we could be her tiring 
maids!’ 

“Wouldn’t that have been just as much 
fun?” Mrs. Lewis asked. 

“It wasn’t fair. After that, we went out 
in the yard to play croquet and had a dread- 
ful fuss because every time Constance fell 
behind she tried to make a new rule. At 
the end, Constance told Esther she had let 
her win by not really trying herself, and 
she began to speak French, so Esther went 
home. Constance and I sat on the 
screened porch to tell stories. Of course 
dear little Goldie Bird flew down onto my 
finger and began to sing for us, and do you 
know Constance wanted me to put him in 


8 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

his cage and put a cloth over it to make him 
hush!” 

“Goldie is rather noisy sometimes.” 

“Well, mother, he has a right to be in his 
own home. I told Constance we never shut 
him up in his cage and I tried to show her 
how cunning he is. She wouldn’t take a 
bit of interest in him and said, ‘Before 
I’d love a bird!’ and ‘How could we stand 
anything so noisy in such a very small 
house.’ So then I told her that if our house 
is small I’d rather live in it with Goldie, 
than in her big house with her, and she 
went home and I was glad.” 

Mrs. Lewis expostulated and Emily 
promised to be more patient, but the little 
girl avoided Constance when she could and 
resumed out door games with the boys. 
The other girls followed her lead as usual, 
so that Constance was left pretty much to 
herself. 


ARRIVAL OF CONSTANCE 9 

Mrs. Thomson was disappointed and 
puzzled. “What is the trouble, Jess?” 
she asked Mrs. Lewis. 

“Simply, that down there on the planta- 
tion, Constance had no playmates. Never 
having played with children she doesn’t 
know how; and Emily, I much regret to 
say, hasn’t the patience necessary to teach 
her. Don’t worry. Constance is bound 
to learn in time. She is too lovely a girl 
not to win her own way ultimately. I con- 
fess I am disappointed in Emily. She has 
always been so fine and loyal, and she 
looked forward with such joy to Con- 
stance’s friendship that it did not occur to 
me she would desert her.” 

“Constance must be to blame,” Mrs. 
Thomson said thoughtfully. “I have never 
known a child with as many friends as Em- 
ily. Ask her to come to my house this 


10 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

afternoon, will you? Constance isn’t very 
well and is lonely.” 

Mrs. Lewis was obliged to do more than 
ask Emily to pay the visit to the white 
house. She and Esther had discovered in 
Esther’s attic an old-fashioned bicycle with 
an enormous wheel in front, a tiny wheel 
in back, and a saddle so elevated that a lad- 
der was necessary to mount it. On this an- 
cient device the two litle girls had planned 
to risk their lives that afternoon. It was 
therefore, with considerable grumbling that 
they betook themselves to the Thomsons. 

In the past, whenever Constance had re- 
ceived visitors, if Mrs. Thomson were at 
home, she had retired to her own room and 
closed the door. To-day she left the door 
open. 

“Now listen, Constance,” she heard Em- 
ily say in a positive tone, “we’ll stay as long 
as you play fair and talk English, but if you 


ARRIVAL OF CONSTANCE 11 

act as you usually do, we’ll go play out 
doors.” 

“I’ll act as I please,” Constance retorted. 
“All right, but if you please to act like a 
baby, we’ll leave, won’t we, Esther?” 

“We will,” Esther answered emphati- 
cally. 

“Well, don’t be fussy,” Constance con- 
ceded. She was tired of playing alone. 
“I tell you what we’ll play — ” 

“We’ll choose because we are guests,” 
Emily interrupted. “You always insist on 
choosing at my house, you know. What 
shall we play, Esther?” 

“House,” Esther answered promptly. 
“Let’s each have a room for an apartment.” 

“Good,” Emily assented. “Which do 
you take and which doll?” 

“I’ll stay here,” Esther decided, “and I 
want the baby doll.” 

“You can’t have her,” Constance objected. 


12 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“I never allow any one to touch her. She 
came from Paris and I want to keep her 
always. Besides, she is the last doll I ever 
expect to have. I am really too old to play 
with dolls and on my twelfth birhday I 
shall put her away for my children.” 

“I hope they will enjoy her,” Emily said 
good humoredly. “Choose another, Es- 
ther.” 

While Esther was considering, Constance 
set about removing from the room her baby 
carriage, best dishes, and other prized pos- 
sessions. She paused to snatch a silk para- 
sol from Esther to add to her collection. 

“Now,” she said, after working industri- 
ously for several minutes. “You two may 
have everything else in this room.” 

Not much was left, but the others, 
trained to make the best of a situation, be- 
gan choosing turn about. 

“I’ll take the piano,” Esther said ani- 


ARRIVAL OF CONSTANCE 13 

matedly, “and be a music teacher. You 
must bring me your children for lessons.” 

“That will be fun,” Emily began. She 
was cut short by Constance. 

“I forgot the piano. It isn’t a toy and I 
can’t allow you to have it. You don’t 
know how to play, and you might ruin it 
by your banging.” 

“Esther does know how to play,” Emily 
said indignantly. “She plays much better 
than you do.” 

“I don’t agree,” Constance replied in the 
grown up manner she could assume at plea- 
sure and which always infuriated Emily. 
“Let’s not play house,” she hurried on see- 
ing that Emily was on the point of leaving, 
“let’s play a game father brought me yes- 
terday. We played last night and I won 
several games even against father. It’s 
called parchesi. It’s good fun. Come on, 
and I’ll teach you.” 


14 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

The others laughed at the idea of her 
teaching them parchesi, a game they had 
known for years, but as it was one of .their 
favorites they did not refuse to play. 

“I’ll take the blue men,” Constance an- 
nounced. “Blue is my lucky color.” 

Now the color of their counters was en- 
tirely immaterial to Emily and Esther but 
Constance had aroused in them both such 
a feeling of antagonism that they insisted 
first choice should be given them; and 
Esther chose the blues. Constance, there- 
upon swept all the counters to the floor. 

Emily’s patience was exhausted. “I 
promised my mother I wouldn’t call you 
a certain name, and I won’t, but if there 
ever was one, you are it.” 

“What name?” Constance demanded, cer- 
tain that it was not complimentary. 

“Begins with a P and has three letters.” 

Constance guessed the name and there 


ARRIVAL OF CONSTANCE 15 

arose such a quarrel that Mrs. Thomson in- 
terfered and the two visitors departed in 
high dudgeon. 

M*rs. Thomson who had watched and 
listened to the children was amazed at Con- 
stance’s behavior. She. decided something 
must be done and at once. That evening 
she had three conferences. One with her 
husband, one with Mrs. Lewis, and the 
third over the telephone with an acquain- 
tance who was superintendent of a Chil- 
dren’s Home. 

Mr. Thomson was even more distressed 
than his wife over Constance’s reported 
selfishness and unpopularity. He and Mrs. 
Lewis both agreed that in some way the at- 
titude of the little girl must be changed, but 
neither quite approved of the plan that Mrs. 
Thomson decided upon. She, however, 
was so sure she was right that she made the 
arrangements that same night. 


CHAPTER II 


THE NEW COMPANION 

E ARLY next morning Mrs. Thom- 
son communicated her plan to 
Constance. 

“My dear, I have arranged to bring here 
a little orphan girl to live with us and be 
your companion for a year. She is 
credited with possessing a wonderful dis- 
position, and I hope she will so improve 
yours that you will be able to make friends 
with Emily and the rest of the children.” 

“I don’t wish to make friends with them. 
I am glad about the orphan, though. 
When is she coming? What is her name? 
How old is she? How did you find her? 
What room will she have? Tell me every- 
thing, mother.” 


16 


THE NEW COMPANION 17 

The more she heard the gladder she be- 
came. With a companion of her own she 
would be independent of Emily. More- 
over, the orphan would be unable to leave 
her in a huff as Emily did when things went 
wrong. Mr. Thomson looked anxious 
when Constance exulted over the prospect 
and urged her mother to greater haste in 
her preparations to go forth to fetch the 
longed for companion. 

“Look here, daughter,” he said, “the 
little girl your mother is going for has no 
parents or home of her own and is in con- 
sequence most unhappy. We must do all 
in our power to make up to her for her loss. 
You will share everything with her and she 
will stay only so long as you can keep her 
contented. I hope we can win her affec- 
tion and make her happy.” 

“Oh,” Constance murmured, looking a 
bit crestfallen. 


18 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Mrs. Thomson and Mrs. Lewis started 
off in Mrs. Thomson’s electric coupe. 
Mrs. Lewis still protested against the 
plan. 

“Such a wild scheme isn’t like you. A 
companion will either make Constance 
more selfish by giving in to her, or else will 
make her wretched by continual opposition. 
Leave Constance alone. She is intelligent 
enough to realize that in order to have any 
fun she must act differently. Give her a 
chance.” 

“Just what I propose to do. When the 
children avoid her now, she turns to grown 
people and books instead of making an ef- 
fort to win friends. A companion who 
can’t avoid her is the only solution. She 
will learn by adapting herself to one child 
to adapt herself to all. She and Emily will 
be good friends yet, even as you and I.” 

“But you think only of Constance. 


THE NEW COMPANION 


19 


What about the other child? Who is she 
any way?” 

“Her name is Elisabeth Howard. She 
is exactly Constance’s age, is a refined little 
thing, and has a most unusual disposition.” 

“Where does she come from? What 
happened to her parents?” 

“A fatal automobile accident, a month 
ago, directly in front of the Home. Elisa- 
beth, the only survivor, was taken into the 
Home and was seriously ill for several days. 
She is only now recovering her strength. 
The doctors won’t allow her to be bothered 
with questions and as she is a very reticent 
child only a few facts are known.” 

“What are they?” 

“It seems her father was in an aviation 
camp and met with an accident that lamed 
him permanently just before he was to go 
over seas. He had to have several opera- 
tions on his foot and was honorably dis- 


20 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

charged from service a short time ago. 
Foolishly enough he felt humiliated that 
he was disabled in camp instead of in action, 
and went away with his family to recuper- 
ate without leaving any address. Elisa- 
beth says her father intended to go into 
the business of manufacturing airplanes but 
she doesn’t know where. She says also 
that she has no relatives nearer than cousins, 
and she knows the address of none of them. 
Both her parents came originally from Cali- 
fornia.” 

“Has an effort been made to communi- 
cate with these relatives?” 

“Advertisements have been inserted in 
the leading California papers, so far with- 
out result. Of course there are bound to 
be inquiries for the child as she is evidently 
well connected. In the meantime Elisa- 
beth is unhappy at the Home but cannot be 
placed for adoption until something is 


THE NEW COMPANION 21 

known in regard to her relatives. It seems 
providential to Miss Parks, the superinten- 
dent, that I should want the child for a 
time, and I am congratulating myself on 
solving my problem and performing a good 
deed at one and the same time. Now, what 
have you to say?” She smiled at her 
friend’s serious face. 

“I am afraid the poor little girl will be 
more miserable than ever,” Mrs. Lewis an- 
swered. 

“Miss Parks is sure that Elisabeth’s 
health and spirits will improve from the 
moment she enters a private house.” 

“I hope so. At first you will have to 
sacrifice everything and everybody, includ- 
ing Constance, to the upbuilding of the 
child’s health.” 

“Of course. Don’t worry about her, 
Jessie. She isn’t sick, just weak and run 
down. She shall have exactly the same 


22 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

care and attention that Constance receives, 
and even more if she needs it. I wouldn’t 
take the child if I did not expect to do my 
full duty by her.” 

“Perhaps a relative will come soon to 
claim her,” Mrs. Lewis said hopefully. 

Mjrs. Thomson laughed. “One might 
suppose I were planning to abuse her. I 
certainly hope no one will claim her until 
she has reformed Constance. Here we are. 
Don’t be discouraging before Miss Parks.” 

The superintendent met them at the door 
and ushered them into the reception room. 
“Do you care to go through the buildings 
to see the children, or shall Elisabeth come 
to you here?” she inquired. 

“Let’s see Elisabeth here,” Mrs. Thom- 
son answered. “From your description I 
think she will fill my requirements.” 

In a few moments a very clean little girl 
with dark hair arranged in two neat braids 


THE NEW COMPANION 


23 


and large pathetic gray eyes, entered the 
room. She was small for her age and very 
thin and pale. She courtesied, took her 
stand beside Miss Parks, and glanced tim- 
idly from one lady to the other. 

She was such a forlorn little creature 
that Mrs. Lewis could not bear to see her 
standing there patiently enduring their in* 
spection. She gathered the child to her 
with a few tender ^words and kissed the sad 
little face turned so appealingly to hers. 
Tears came into the child’s eyes as she 
clung to her new friend almost convul- 
sively. 

“Elisabeth,” Mrs. Thomson asked kindly, 
“would you like to go home with me to be 
a companion for my little girl?” 

“I wish I could go with you,” Elisabeth 
said to Mrs. Lewis. 

“But she doesn’t need you. Her little 
girl has two brothers to play with while 


24 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

mine has none. We shall try to make you 
happy. You shall have a room of your 
own, pretty clothes, books, games, every- 
thing that you want, besides a little girl 
your own age to play with.” 

Mrs. Lewis’s arm tightened about the 
slight figure. She knew the child was long- 
ing for affection of which no mention had 
been made. 

“I live only three doors from Mrs. 
Thomson,” she said reassuringly. 

“Of course she will be glad to go,” Miss 
Parks put in briskly. 

“Have you a good yard for Billy?” 
Elisabeth asked. 

“For Billy? Who is he?” Mrs. Thomson 
inquired. The superintendent showed 
signs of uneasiness. 

Elisabeth’s face brightened. “Billy is 
my dog. I’ll call him.” 

Mrs. Thomson stopped her. “We won’t 


THE NEW COMPANION 25 

bother about Billy,” she said with a smile. 
“We don’t need a dog.” 

“Not bother about him,” Elisabeth re- 
peated in a bewildered tone. “Billy be- 
longs to me. He is my dog.” 

Miss Parks began nervously to explain. 
“It is against our rules for the children to 
keep dogs but we had to make an exception 
in Elisabeth’s case. She clung to him even 
when she was ill, and the physicians refused 
to have him sent away. Of course she will 
not need him now and will soon forget him 
in her new surroundings.” 

“No,” Elisabeth protested, her eyes 
frightened, her arms extended in appeal. 
“Oh, no.” 

At that moment Billy burst into the 
room. He was mostly fox terrier though 
too large for a thoroughbred. He ex- 
pressed as much joy at seeing Elisabeth as if 
they had been separated a week instead of 


26 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

ten minutes. Elisabeth hugged him before 
she introduced him. 

“This is my dog, Billy.” 

He stepped forward politely, sniffed 
the two strangers, and laid his head for 
a moment in Mrs. Lewis’s lap. He 
divined immediately that she liked 
dogs. 

“But my dear child,” Mrs. Thomson ex- 
postulated. “I can’t have that creature at 
my house. We’ll leave him here for the 
other children, and you may come to see 
him sometimes.” 

She had never had a dog and was quite 
unaware of the enormity of her proposal. 
Anticipating no real opposition from his 
little mistress who appeared entirely too 
timid and meek to oppose any one, she 
was surprised when Elisabeth faced her de- 
terminedly. 

“I won’t leave Billy.” 


THE NEW COMPANION 27 

“You mustn’t say T won’t’ to me, Elisa- 
beth.” 

“I know it, but I won’t leave Billy. I 
can’t. He is mine. I have had him ever 
since he was a puppy and I was a baby. 
He takes care of me. He sleeps with me 
every night — ” 

“Surely not,” Mrs. Thomson exclaimed 
in a tone of horror. 

Miss Parks was apologetic. “We were 
obliged to let her have him on the foot of 
her bed. She could not sleep otherwise, 
but of course now that she is well — ” 

Elisabeth watched the grown-ups anx- 
iously, her arms about Billy, who looked 
as worried as she. 

Mrs. Thomson grew irritated. “I wish 
you had mentioned the dog over the tele- 
phone, Miss Parks.” 

Mrs. Lewis spoke to her friend in an un- 
dertone. “Harriet, I’ll never speak to you 


28 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

again if you try to separate that child from 
her dog. Either take both or neither.” 

“I don’t like dogs,” Mrs. Thomson re- 
plied in the same tone. “They are dirty 
creatures. Besides, that is nothing but a 
cur.” 

“A mongrel,” Mrs. Lewis corrected, 
“with a beautiful face and a heart of gold. 
See how intelligently he is watching us.” 

“I don’t know what to do. The child 
couldn’t be more what I want if she had 
been made to order. She has beautiful 
manners. I’d never find another who 
would do as well. I suppose I shall have 
to take the dog, too, for a while. He can’t 
enter the house though.” 

Mrs. Lewis turned to Elisabeth. “It’s 
all right, honey, Billy is going with you.” 

Billy wagged his tail and looked less per- 
turbed. Mrs. Lewis patted his head and 
talked to Elisabeth while Mrs. Thomson 


THE NEW COMPANION 29 

signed the papers giving her possession of 
Elisabeth for a year, in case no legal 
guardian claimed the child before that 
time. 

Miss Parks bade Elisabeth good-by with 
much feeling. “I shall miss you, dear. 
I know you will be a good little girl and 
make Mrs. Thomson glad to keep you.” 

The anxious longing expression of Elisa- 
beth’s face as she entered the coupe made 
Mrs. Lewis’s heart ache. She would have 
given much to be able to take both child 
and dog to her own home, there to keep 
them always. 


CHAPTER III 


BILLY 

C ONSTANCE waited at the front 
gate for her mother’s return. 
She -saw Emily sauntering down 
the street and longed to discuss with her 
the expected arrival of the little compan- 
ion. But Emily kept her distance. It 
did seem unfortunate to Constance that a 
girl who had started out to be such an agree- 
able admiring friend should have changed 
so completely. She hoped the new little 
girl wouldn’t get cross and call her names. 

Emily lingered in the vicinity waiting 
for a glimpse of Constance’s companion in 
whose coming she was quite as much inter- 
ested as Constance herself. She rather 
wished she had controlled her temper 


30 


BILLY 


31 

yesterday so that she might with dignity 
call at the white house and witness the 
reception of the little orphan. She had 
never known either an orphan or a com- 
panion and was determined to be in front 
of the house when the coupe should re- 
turn. Realizing that the event was likely 
to take place at any moment, she ap- 
proached the gate. 

“Hello,” Constance called. “I suppose 
Aunt Jessie told you I am expecting a com- 
panion. She should be here now.” 

“Yes, mother told me.” 

“It won’t matter when I have her that 
you and Esther don’t care to play with 
me. I am sure I shall enjoy her, for she 
has a wonderful disposition.” 

“I am afraid she’ll need it,” Emily re- 
marked. 

“She will not. She is a poor little or- 
phan and I shall try to make her happy. 


32 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

She may have anything of mine that she 
wants and I shall play what she likes. 
You look as if you didn’t believe me 
but it is true.” Constance resolved that 
it should be true, just “to show” 
Emily. 

Constance grew angry at Emily’s expres- 
sion of incredulity. 

“I will be good to her, Emily Lewis. 
I’ll make her love me. You wait and 
see.” 

Her voice penetrated to the coupe which 
at that moment drew up before the curb. 
Elisabeth heard Constance’s remark and 
never doubting that she was referred to, 
flushed happily. 

“Here she is!” Constance cried. 

Waiting for no introduction she put 
her arms about Elisabeth, kissed her, 
though she was ordinarily not demonstra- 
tive, and drew her to the house without 


BILLY 


33 

even a glance at the interested Emily. 
Elisabeth could not know the reason for 
her cordial reception. She entered the 
gate of her new home with a face so trem- 
ulously happy that Mrs. Lewis felt a 
little comforted. She would not allow 
Mrs. Thomson to recall the two children 
to speak to Emily. 

“No indeed, I wouldn’t have that meet- 
ing spoiled for anything.” 

“The little orphan isn’t very pretty,” 
Emily remarked, “but when she smiled I 
wanted to hug her.” 

“Run on in and hug her all you please,” 
Mrs. Thomson invited. 

“No,” Mrs. Lewis prohibited. 

“Horrors, they have taken that dreadful 
dog into the house!” Mrs. Thomson ex- 
claimed. 

“Of course they have,” Mrs Lewis 
laughed. “He can’t be kept out with 


34 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Elisabeth in. Resign yourself to the in- 
evitable and make him welcome.” 

“I can’t. I’d like to have my car fumi- 
gated before I use it again. I hate asso- 
ciating with animals.” 

“You are not used to them. Neither 
was I until I married and Dick’s collie 
came to live with us. I soon learned to 
love the dear old fellow. You’ll soon 
grow used to Billy.” 

“I don’t want to get used to him,” Mrs. 
Thomson declared. 

“I wish I could have patted him,” Emily 
said. She followed her mother home to 
gain all the information possible in regard 
to the two interesting strangers. 

Constance led Elisabeth upstairs to the 
apartment prepared for her. 

“Your room is next to mine with a door 
between.” 

“It is a beautiful room,” Elisabeth said 


BILLY 


35 

warmly. “I am glad it is next to yours.” 

“I am, too. We’ll have fun together, 
won’t we?” 

Elisabeth assented. She thought she had 
never met a girl as lovely as Constance and 
told her so. Constance was equally pleased 
with Elisabeth. It would not be difficult 
to be good to such a timid and appreciative 
companion whose smile appealed to her as 
it had to Emily. 

“I’ll show you the house, so you will feel 
at home,” she said hospitably. 

When Mrs. Thomson entered, she heard 
the children chatting so happily that she 
did not disturb them even to order Billy 
turned out. He followed the little girls 
about, getting acquainted with his new 
home through a process of sniffing at every- 
thing. 

Constance had accepted Billy as a neces- 
sary appendage to Elisabeth, but she was 


36 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

not pleased with him. She felt somewhat 
afraid in spite of Elisabeth’s assurance that 
he was the gentlest dog in the world. 

“He messes things,” she complained, 
when Billy with a wag of his long tail up- 
set a paper doll’s tea-party. 

“He is sorry and will be more careful,” 
Elisabeth apologized as she replaced the 
dolls. 

“Put him in the yard while we play.” 

“I couldn’t. He would cry and disturb 
your mother.” 

“He disturbs me.” 

“Let’s all three play in the yard.” 

“No, I want to show you my dolls. Sit 
down and I’ll let you hold my baby. Isn’t 
she a beauty? She came from Paris.” As 
she leaned down, Billy thrust his cold nose 
against her bare arm, startling her to such 
an extent that she dropped the doll. For- 
tunately Elisabeth caught it and no harm 


BILLY 


37 

was done, but Constance scolded Billy so 
severely that he ran to hide his head in 
Elisabeth’s lap. She laid aside the doll to 
comfort the dog. 

Constance lost her temper. “The idea 
of your being careless with my best Paris 
doll. I won’t allow the other girls even to 
touch it.” 

Elisabeth regarded the transformed Con- 
stance in genuine amazement. Surely she 
must be in fun. She paraphrazed her 
words. 

“The idea of you scolding my very best 
dog!” 

Constance relaxed somewhat. “Why do 
you have a dog? A doll is so much 
nicer.” 

“You can’t mean that. A doll can’t love 
you, or play with you, or go walking. A 
doll isn’t alive.” 

“But you can’t dress and undress a dog, 


38 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

or rock him to sleep, or put him to bed, or 
wheel him in a carriage or — ” 

“Of course you can. Lend me one of 
your doll’s nighties and I’ll show you.” 

Billy submitted to being dressed. He 
looked so absurd with his paws stretching 
out from the sleeves, and the pink ribbon 
tied under his chin that Constance could 
not help laughing. He allowed himself to 
be wheeled in the doll carriage, drank wa- 
ter from a teaspoon, and acted the part of 
a baby so well that Constance was charmed. 
She wished to continue the game indefin- 
itely, but Elisabeth soon removed the gown 
and romped with Billy about the room. 

“He gets tired,” she explained. 

“Dolls never do,” Constance said, revert- 
ing to their argument. 

“Dolls never do anything.” 

“But you can pretend they do every- 
thing.” 



u 


yy 


BILLY SUBMITTED TO BEING DRESSED 



























* 



























% 

















































































































♦ 













































BILLY 


39 

“I can’t. They seem silly to me.” 

“Then you had better go back where you 
came from,” Constance stormed. “We 
can’t have any fun together. I like dolls 
and I hate dogs.” 

“Don’t send me back to the institution,” 
Elisabeth pleaded. “Please don’t, Con- 
stance. I’ll play dolls with you. Let us 
stay, Billy and me. You will like Billy, I 
know you will, and if you will promise not 
to scold him, I’ll promise to be careful of 
your dolls.” 

“Well,” Constance agreed, and peace was 
restored. 

Mrs. Thomson who had overheard the 
altercation was pleased at the settlement. 
She congratulated herself upon having 
found exactly the right child for the place. 
“And after a while,” she thought, “when 
she feels more at home, we can dispose of 
the dog.” 


40 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

The more Mrs. Thomson saw of Elisa- 
beth the better she was pleased. At lunch- 
eon she found that Elisabeth possessed ex- 
cellent table manners, and was surprised to 
learn that she spoke French and German 
more fluently even than Constance. The 
second discovery annoyed Constance. She 
liked to feel superior to her companion. 

After lunch Elisabeth fed Billy from 
scraps provided by Mandy, the colored 
cook. Mandy liked both dogs and chil- 
dren and straightway made friends of the 
two strangers. She promised to keep a 
pan of fresh water in the passageway for 
Billy’s use and to open the kitchen door 
for him when he asked to go out or come 
in. She won Elisabeth’s heart by compli- 
menting Billy’s beauty and intelligence. 
The little girl lingered so long in the kit- 
chen that Constance came impatiently to 
find her. 


BILLY 


41 

“Mother says we must spend the after- 
noon out doors,” she complained. 

“I am glad,” said Elisabeth, “and so is 
Billy.” 

“I am not. There is more to do in the 
house. We’ll roller skate for a while. 
Father brought me new skates, yesterday, 
and my old ones will fit you. If any other 
girls come out, don’t speak to them.” 

“Why not?” Elisabeth asked, surprised 
both at the prohibition and the command- 
ing way in which it was given. 

“Never mind why. Just don’t, that’s 
all.” 

In Elisabeth’s stead Emily would have 
retorted she’d do as she pleased and a quar- 
rel would have ensued. Mrs. Thomson in 
the hall above waited to hear Elisabeth’s 
answer. She made none but looked at Con- 
stance in such amazement that Constance 
was moved to add : 


42 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“I don’t like them. They fuss with me 
and call me names.” 

“That’s queer,” Elisabeth commented 
gravely, as she followed Constance from 
the house. 

As it happened she was not so proficient 
a skater as the other little girl, and Con- 
stance recovered her good humor in exhib- 
iting her own prowess and helping Elisa- 
beth to imitate her. Billy ran joyously be- 
side them, highly approving the sport. 

Naturally enough Emily and Esther 
came out on the sidewalk also. 

“Hello,” they called affably. 

Constance returned the salutation with 
frigid politeness and drew Elisabeth firmly 
toward the gate. Elisabeth looked back 
for Billy and smiled when she saw Em- 
ily patting him. Emily returned the 
smile. 

“Is this your dog?” she asked, by way of 


BILLY 


43 

entering into conversation. Of course she 
knew he was. 

Elisabeth responded in spite of Con- 
stance’s restraining hand. 

“I like dogs,” Emily hurried on, “but I 
can’t have one now on account of my can- 
ary. He is as affectionate as a dog. In the 
mornings I take him in bed with me, and 
he looks too cunning with his tiny yellow 
head peeping from the covers. The min- 
ute I go into the house he begins to sing.” 

Elisabeth stopped short in her interest. 
“I’d love to see him,” she called over her 
shoulder as Constance dragged her for- 
ward. 

“Come now,” Emily urged. “This is 
Esther Barton, and I am Emily Lewis. 
You know, it was my mother that went af- 
ter you with Constance’s mother.” 

Elisabeth turned to Constance. “You 
are hurting me,” she said mildly. “Let’s 


44 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

go to Emily’s house for a minute to see her 
mother and the canary.” 

“No,” Constance refused angrily, walk- 
ing rapidly into her yard. 

“Good-by,” Elisabeth called to the others 
as she followed. 

“Listen,” Constance said severely when 
the two were alone. “You were brought 
here to play with me. If you don’t want 
to, mother will take you back.” 

“I don’t want to go back, ever, I want to 
stay here with you. But I like Emily and 
her mother, and I don’t like the way you 
order me about. Nobody except my 
Cousin — , I mean I am not used to it.” 

“You look as if you wouldn’t mind. I 
won’t order you, if you will play with me 
and leave other girls alone. You will see 
Emily every once in a while because her 
mother is my mother’s best friend, and we 
go to her house and they come here often, 


BILLY 


45 

but you must remember that you are my 
companion and not Emily’s. She has lived 
here always and has ever so many friends. 
I have been here only a few weeks and 
haven’t any friends. That’s the reason 
mother brought you. Come on, we’ll play 
whatever you wish.” 

Elisabeth did not understand the situa- 
tion, but Constance could make herself 
charming when she chose, and this 
afternoon she exerted herself to the 
utmost. She entertained Elisabeth with 
the stories for which she was noted, and 
enjoyed her little companion’s pleasure 
and praise all the more because Elisabeth 
did not try to tell stories in her turn. The 
two girls passed a surprisingly happy after- 
noon. Mrs. Thomson was delighted with 
their air of content when she called them 
in to dress for the evening. 

“They get on beautifully,” she thought. 


46 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Either that child is a marvel, or Constance 
was less to blame with the others than it ap- 
peared.” 

After Elisabeth had bathed, and dressed 
herself in the dainty garments laid out for 
her, she went to Mrs. Thomson to be in- 
spected. Mrs. Thomson’s appraising 
glance rested on her with satisfaction. She 
was not beautiful, or even pretty at present, 
being too thin and colorless, but she pos- 
sessed such an air of refinement and sweet- 
ness that she was by no means unattractive 
even when compared with Constance who 
stood beside her as fresh and lovely as a 
rose. 

They were startled by Billy’s furious 
barking. Elisabeth hurried down stairs 
after him and held him as Mr. Thomson 
entered the house. 

“Why such a racket!” Mr. Thomson in- 
quired. 


BILLY 


47 

Billy wagged his tail propitiatingly, and 
after a prolonged scrutiny gravely extended 
his paw as from one gentleman to another. 

It was accepted by Mr. Thomson with 
equal gravity as he listened to Elisabeth’s 
explanation. 

“Billy thought you were a burglar or 
somebody like that. He hopes you will ex- 
cuse him.” 

“Certainly,” Mr. Thompson replied. 
“One can’t be too careful these days.” He 
patted the dog with one hand while he 
held out the other to Elisabeth. “And I 
am sure you are our new little girl. I am 
glad to have you with us, dear, you and 
Billy both.” 

Elisabeth looked up in to the kindest eyes 
she had ever seen and from that moment she 
loved Mr. Thomson, with all her lonely 
heart. While waiting for dinner he sat 
down in his great armchair on the veran- 


48 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

dah. Constance took her place on his knee 
expecting to monopolize him as always at 
this time of day. Mr. Thomson saw the 
grieved expression on Elisabeth’s face as 
she moved away. 

“Come, dear,” he invited. “I have two 
arms, one for each of my little girls.” He 
lifted her up as he spoke. “You will have 
to eat more, though, so that you will bal- 
ance Constance properly. You weigh no 
more than a fairy.” 

Elisabeth drew a deep sigh as she rested 
her head against his shoulder. Rightly sus- 
pecting that she was thinking of her own 
father, he did not try to talk to her but ad- 
dressed a lot of nonsense to Constance and 
Billy. The dog sat on Mr. Thomson’s 
foot as close to him as he could press. He 
loved Mr. Thomson, too. 

Shortly after dinner Elisabeth looked so 
, tired that Mrs. Thomson sent her to bed. 


BILLY 


49 

She undressed with a feeling of deep un- 
easiness, for Mrs. Thomson had decreed 
that Billy should spend the night on the 
back porch where Mr. Thomson had made 
him a comfortable bed. Elisabeth had 
placed him in it with loving pats and 
begged him to remain until morning, though 
she thought it was a good deal to ask of a 
dog who had never spent a night out of 
doors in his life. 

For a moment or two Billy waited quietly 
for her return. Becoming impatient, he 
came to the door and barked to have it 
opened for him. He barked repeatedly. 
Mrs. Thomson bade him lie down and be 
quiet. Mr. Thomson twice returned him 
to his bed. Billy became alarmed as he 
finally giasped the idea that he was ex- 
pected to spend the night apart from Elisa- 
beth. He cried dismally. 

Elisabeth cried in sympathy as she lay 


50 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

on the luxurious bed, which she would 
gladly have exchanged for the institution 
cot with Billy at her feet. Billy’s barks 
and howls increased. 

“What shall we do?” Mrs. Thomson 
asked her husband, her dislike for Billy in- 
creasing every moment. “Neither we nor 
the neighbors can endure that frightful 
noise.” 

“Let’s try him in the basement,” Mr. 
Thomson suggested. 

When the door was opened, Billy dashed 
in joyously and was up on Elisabeth’s bed 
before he could be caught. Elisabeth 
begged to keep him with her but Mrs. 
Thomson was firm. He was borne down 
the basement steps by Mr. Thomson. He 
preceeded that gentleman back to the top. 
Three times he was taken down and placed 
on his rug, three times he mounted the steps 
in advance of Mr. Thomson. Finally Mr. 


BILLY 


51 

Thomson closed the door and left him. 
Billy had to stay, but nothing could induce 
him to be quiet. 

Mrs. Thomson advocated whipping him. 
Mr. Thomson refused. Constance com- 
plained bitterly of the noise. Elisabeth 
cried softly to herself as she heard her be- 
loved dog scolded and berated. 

“Leave him alone,” Mr. Thomson said. 
“He may get tired and quiet down after 
awhile.” 

He didn’t know Billy. The dog was wild 
at being separated from his little mistress 
on this first night in a strange house. His 
every instinct demanded that he be with 
her to guard her from harm and to comfort 
her loneliness. His cries grew increasingly 
painful. 

Elisabeth could not stand them. She 
crept out of bed and stole softly to the 
basement where she was received by Billy 


52 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

with the wildest manifestations of joy. The 
two of them curled up in a clothes basket 
and went sobbingly to sleep. 

“Billy is quiet at last,” Mr. Thomson 
remarked with great relief. 

“It is certainly time,” said his wife. 

Before retiring she went first to Con- 
stance’s bed and then to Elisabeth’s which 
was of course empty. She called Mr. 
Thomson in alarm. He at once suspected 
what had happened and they went to the 
basement. Mrs. Thomson was angry with 
Elisabeth but she relented when she saw 
the child’s pathetic tear-dimmed face, and 
heard the sobs which continued even in 
sleep. At first Billy would not allow them 
to touch Elisabeth, but after Mr. Thomson 
had assured him of his good intentions, he 
permitted the little girl who was still 
asleep to be carried up stairs and placed in 
bed. He followed as a matter of course. 



ii 


yy 


AGAIN OFFERED MR. THOMPSON HIS PAW 





BILLY 


53 

Mr. Thomson placed a large armchair 
beside the bed. “You may sleep there,” 
he told Billy, who jumped into it with 
alacrity and again offered Mr. Thomson 
his paw, to show there was no hard feeling. 

“You are almost human, old fellow,” Mr. 
Thomson said with a laugh as he ca- 
ressed the dog. “I am glad you gained 
your point to-night, and I do hope the 
mistress will learn to like you.” 

“It is too bad,” Mrs. Thomson lamented, 
“that we can never have exactly what 
we want. Elisabeth would be perfect if 
only she hadn’t that impossible animal. 
I am not sure I can endure him for the 
sake of keeping her. I may return them 
both unless I can induce her to give him 
up.” 

“You can never separate those two,” her 
husband prophesized. 


CHAPTER IV 


mrs. Thomson's mistake 

N EXT morning Elisabeth was so 
languid and pale that Mrs. 
Thomson sent for the doctor. 
After a careful examination he told Mrs. 
Thomson his little patient needed only an 
abundance of rest, fresh air, and nourish- 
ing food to make her strong. 

“Let her have her own way about every- 
thing possible,” he said, “and keep her 
out of doors.” 

Mrs. Thomson carried out his directions 
conscientiously. Billy was allowed to oc- 
cupy the armchair beside Elisabeth’s bed 
every night, and in spite of much grum- 
bling from Constance the children were 
kept out doors the greater part of every 


54 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 55 

day. Frequently Mr. Thomson took them 
for a drive in the country. He chose unfre- 
quented roads that Billy might jump out 
and follow the car without danger from 
other machines, and drove slowly that he 
might keep up. This procedure annoyed 
Constance but Mr. Thomson ignored her 
complaints after his first explanation. 

“Billy waits patiently while you and 
Elisabeth swing in the park and pick wild 
flowers along the road; it is but fair that 
you should be patient while he has his fun.” 

To be forced to consider others instead 
of herself was a new experience for Con- 
stance and one to which she did not take 
kindly. 

“It’s always ‘you can’t do this because 
it’s bad for Elisabeth,’ and ‘you must do 
that because it’s good for Elisabeth,’ and 
now I have to ride so slowly that I’m 
baked on account of Elisabeth’s dog. 


56 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

What’s the use of having a companion?” 
Constance asked moodily. 

“Please keep us, any way,” Elisabeth 
begged, and Constance finally promised 
that she would. 

As a matter of fact nothing would have 
distressed her more than a separation. 
Elisabeth by reason of her natural sweet- 
ness and desire to please, as well as be- 
cause of her dread of being returned to 
the institution, submitted to Constance’s 
vagaries with remarkable patience and self- 
control. On her side, Constance made 
heroic efforts to be agreeable. She was 
growing fond of Elisabeth. Moreover 
she realized that in spite of their infre- 
quent meetings Elisabeth and Emily were 
strongly attracted to each other. She de- 
termined to keep first place in Elisabeth’s 
affections for herself and to show Emily 
that she could make and keep a friend. 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 57 

As a consequence the two girls quarrelled 
surprisingly little, and every one, especially 
Emily, marvelled at their general air of 
harmony. 

Mr Thomson loved Elisabeth from the 
beginning. Mrs. Thomson was learning 
to depend upon her not only to keep Con- 
stance entertained and happy but to be 
helpful to herself in many ways. 

'“I didn’t know a child could be as quick 
to anticipate one’s wants, or as pleased to 
render a service,” she said to Mrs. Lewis. 
“Of course it isn’t pleasant to have any 
stranger continually in one’s home, but I 
must say I can imagine no one less objec- 
tionable than Elisabeth. If only she did 
not have that dog!” 

Although Billy was pretty nearly as 
well-behaved as a dog could be, he was a 
sore trial to Mrs. Thomson. He was al- 
ways in evidence, following Elisabeth in her 


58 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

various comings and goings. He barked 
at every stranger who came to the house 
in his zeal to protect it. He was shed- 
ding and when he rolled over on rug or 
carpet to scratch his back he left an imprint 
that was difficult to eradicate. Elisabeth 
always hurried for the carpet sweeper but 
she was not always able to remove the g lis- 
tening white hairs before Mrs. Thomson 
saw them, and Mrs. Thomson was a most 
particular housekeeper. Once or twice he 
tracked mud into the house, provoking such 
wrath that Elisabeth afterwards kept a 
cloth on the back porch and trained Billy 
to wait to have his paws dried before en- 
tering. Constance was interested to see 
how quickly he grasped her meaning and 
learned to lift up first one paw and then 
the other to be wiped. 

In fact Constance soon grew more inter- 
ested in Billy than she was willing to ad- 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 59 

mit. She never grew tired testing his 
ability to understand ordinary conversation. 
At unexpected moments she asked him if 
he wanted a bath, for his answer was al- 
ways to hide under the bed. He hated a 
bath. If, on the contrary, she asked him to 
do something he enjoyed, he responded at 
once, with eager eyes and tail in motion. 

Billy was an affectionate dog and tried 
to make friends of every member of the 
household. He succeeded with all but 
Mrs. Thomson and Constance. Sometimes 
he laid his head in Constance’s hand and 
looked up at her with soft loving eyes in 
a way to win a caress. But then again, 
when Constance spoke to Elisabeth in a 
cross or querulous tone, he faced her with 
a peculiar sound in his throat that fright- 
ened her and led her passionately to de- 
clare she would not have him in the house 
another day. 


60 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“If only we could get rid of Billy!” 
she said to her mother many times. “He 
is always in the way and Elisabeth pays 
more attention to him than she does to me.” 

Mrs. Thomson listened sympathetically. 
“Some day we’ll find him a home in the 
country where dogs rightly belong,” she 
promised. “But we must wait until Elis- 
abeth is stronger and has learned to feel 
completely at home.” 

Elisabeth, fortunately unaware of Mrs. 
Thomson’s plans, adjusted herself to the 
ways of the household and made a place 
for herself in the family life. In spite of 
her growing affection for the people about 
her, however, she clung to Billy as to the 
one being left who belonged wholly to 
her. She poured out her heart to him as 
she could to no one else, feeling sure of 
his perfect love and understanding. Fre- 
quently she awakened in the darkness of the 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 61 

night confused and trembling from dreams 
of her former life. Too timid to call to 
Mrs. Thomson for the comfort so sorely 
needed, she would have passed many a 
miserable hour except for Billy. He was 
always there beside her, always awakened 
by her need for him, always able to bring 
her back to reality and dissipate her fears 
by his warm comforting presence. Hold- 
ing to him she could drop off again peace- 
fully to sleep. 

Mrs. Thomson did not understand these 
things. She considered it unhealthful for 
Billy to sleep in Elisabeth’s room. She 
honestly believed the child would be ben- 
efited by the dog’s departure. 

“He is a strain on her,” she thought, 
“and causes unnecessary friction between 
her and Constance. Practically the only 
trouble the children have now is over him. 
Moreover, the exertion of exercising, feed- 


62 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

ing, and bathing that large animal is too 
much for a delicate little girl.” 

She began looking about for a home in 
the country to which she intended sending 
Billy as soon as she felt Elisabeth could 
stand the separation. 

After a week or two she decided the time 
had come. Elisabeth had begun to gain in 
weight. Her color was better and she 
seemed much more cheerful. At the same 
time Billy was more in evidence than usual. 
It rained for three successive days and he 
therefore spent most of the time in the 
house. One day, when Mrs. Thomson and 
Constance entered the drawing room, they 
found him lying on the upholstered couch, 
his head resting comfortably on the real 
lace pillow. 

“Doesn’t he look cunning!” Constance 
exclaimed. “And isn’t he clever to know 
what a pillow is for?” 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 63 

Mrs. Thomson saw nothing cunning or 
clever in Billy’s position. She scolded him 
so severely that he ran upstairs to crawl 
under Elisabeth’s bed and could not be en- 
ticed from under it for several hours. 

Mrs. Thomson set to work to rid the 
house of Billy. She decided to spare 
Elisabeth the pain of parting and arranged 
that the farmer with whom she had made 
an agreement should come for the dog on 
an afternoon when Mr. Thomson had in- 
vited the two little girls and three young 
Lewises to a matinee. Afterwards the en- 
tire Lewis family was to take dinner at 
the white house and Mrs. Thomson de- 
vised several pleasant surprises in the hope 
of distracting Elisabeth’s thoughts from 
her dog. She kept her plan a secret from 
every one, even her husband and Mrs. 
Lewis. 

On the day appointed Mr. Thomson 


64 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

and the children prepared to leave in his 
car. Billy begged hard to be of the party 
though Elisabeth had spent a long time ex- 
plaining to him that dogs were not allowed 
in theaters. He stopped sadly at the door 
when Elisabeth said firmly: 

“No, Billy Dog, you can’t go.” He 
looked so grieved she ran back to comfort 
him with a last loving pat. “I’ll take you 
walking as soon as I come back if you 
will be a good dog and not fret.” 

He understood, wagged his tail in reply, 
and ran to the window to see her go and 
to watch quiveringly for her return. An 
hour later the farmer stopped his wagon in 
front of the house and came to the door. 
Billy barked at him. 

“He’s a good watch dog,” the old man 
said admiringly, “and smart looking too. 
He’s just the fellow I’m looking for to 
help me run my farm. Thank you, ma’am. 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 65 

Tell the little girl I’ll take good care of 
him and he’ll have a heap of fun in the 
country. Come on, old fellow.” 

Billy’s answer was a growl. H«e had no 
intention of following this stranger. When 
the farmer tried to attach a rope to his 
collar, Billy showed his teeth. 

The farmer laughed. “Don’t want to 
go home with me, eh? You’ll like it 
when you get there, but I’m afraid the 
only way to take you is in a sack.” 

Billy didn’t know what a sack was until 
he found himself in one, tied up so that 
he could not escape in spite of his frantic 
efforts. He was gently deposited in the 
wagon where he lay trembling and moan- 
ing in a manner truly piteous. The farmer 
spoke to him reassuringly as he drove off 
but nothing could quiet Billy. 

“I am glad that is done,” Mrs. Thomson 
told herself, trying to banish from her 


66 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

mind the look of bewildered terror in 
Billy’s eyes. 

With no premonition of impending dis- 
aster, Elisabeth enjoyed the performance 
thoroughly. She laughed delightedly at 
the amusing comedy, joined in the fun dur- 
ing intermissions, and told Mr. Thomson 
she didn’t know when she had had such a 
good time. But as soon as the performance 
was over she was anxious to get home. 

“I know poor Billy has been lonesome 
for me,” she said. “He’ll be there at the 
window watching for me and he’ll cry and 
almost eat me up he’ll be so glad to see 
me. 

“Mother will be at the window, too, 
watching for us,” said little five year old 
Barry. 

“And my mother will be watching for 
me,” Constance added gayly. 

Elisabeth’s happy face clouded and the 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 67 

old sad look returned. “Any way, I’m 
glad I have my dear old dog,” she mur- 
mured. 

Emily slipped her arm about her and 
cast an indignant glance at the thought- 
less Constance. 

When they approached the house, they 
saw that the two mothers were at the win- 
dow watching for their children, but where 
was Billy? Not at any of the windows, 
that was certain. Not waiting at the front 
door to spring upon his little mistress in an 
ecstasy of joy. Frightened, Elisabeth ran 
into the house calling him. There was no 
response : 

“Where is Billy?” she asked Mrs. Thom- 
son with a little catch in her voice. 

“You are warm, child. Take off your 
hat and sit down here beside me. I have 
something to tell you.” 

Elisabeth could not wait to take off 


68 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

her hat and sit down. “Where is Billy? 
Is he killed? Did an automobile run over 
him? Oh, won’t you tell me?” 

“Billy is perfectly well, Elisabeth, all 
right in every way. He has met with no 
accident and I am convinced he will be 
well cared for.” 

“Mother, have you sent him away?” 
Constance asked, her voice trembling as 
she realized for the first time what his ab- 
sence would mean to Elisabeth. The 
others stood listening. 

Elisabeth’s eyes grew wide with fear 
reminding Mrs. Thomson of Billy’s. 
“Where is my dog?” she implored. 

“Please end our suspense at once,” Mr. 
Thomson said. 

Mrs. Thomson addressed herself to Elis- 
abeth who was trembling just like Billy. 
“‘You know that dogs like the country bet- 
ter than the city. Billy was always de- 


MRS, THOMSON’S MISTAKE 69 

lighted when Mr. Thomson took him be- 
yond the park and let him run. Now he 
has gone to live on a farm, with a kind 
old man, Mr. Ellis, to take care of him. 
Don’t look so tragic, child. In a few 
days I’ll drive you out to see how well 
and happy he is. I sent him while you 
were away from home because I thought 
it would be easier for you. A city house 
is no place for a dog and you are not 
strong enough to have the care of one. 
Think what a relief it will be not to 
have to stop to feed him and — Why Elisa- 
beth!” 

Mrs. Thomson had expected Elisabeth 
to cry and perhaps protest a* little but she 
was not prepared to see her stand quite 
still, lose her color, balance herself unstead- 
ily, and drop to the floor in an abandon- 
ment of helpless grief. She was not pre- 
pared for Constance’s outburst of weeping, 


70 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

little Barry’s clenched fist, nor her hus- 
band’s exclamation as he raised the little 
figure in his arms. 

“Harriet, I am afraid you have been 
cruel.” 

The Lewises said nothing but Emily’s 
eyes flashed dangerously. Mrs. Lewis took 
Elisabeth from Mr. Thomson and cradled 
her in her arms. 

The little girl went from one paroxism of 
crying into another. Mrs. Thomson be- 
came alarmed and telephoned for Dr. Wil- 
son. “I wish I had waited a month or 
two,” she admitted. Nevertheless she re- 
fused Constance’s plea that some one should 
be sent to bring Billy back. 

“That would be really cruel,” she said. 
“We cannot ask Elisabeth to undergo an- 
other parting.” 

Mrs. Lewis had put Elisabeth to bed and 
was worried over her condition. “1 am 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 71 

afraid the child will be seriously ill as the 
result of such a shock. Of course you 
meant well, Harriet, but you had no right 
to do what you did.” 

“I didn’t realize the child would take 
it so hard,” Mrs. Thomson said in a 
troubled tone. 

“Where is Emily?” Mrs. Lewis asked, 
looking about the room. 

No one knew. 

“I suppose she has gone home because 
she could not bear to see Elisabeth’s dis- 
tress,” Mrs. Lewis decided. 

She was wrong. As soon as Emily heard 
Mrs. Thomson refuse to send for Billy she 
determined to go for him herself and re- 
turn him to his owner. She was so aflame 
with indignation and sympathy (that she 
did not stop to consider the propriety of 
her act. She knew where Mr. Ellis lived 
rind started off to his house on her bicycle. 


72 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Suppose it was Goldie,” she told herself 
as she peddled with all her strength. 

As soon as Dr. Wilson saw Elisabeth, he 
gave her medicine to make her sleep. 
When she quieted down he left her in Mrs. 
Lewis’s care and followed the Thomsons 
into the adjoining room. 

“I want your advice, Doctor,” Mrs. 
Thomson said. “My husband feels that 
Elisabeth should not be deprived of her 
dog, and that she will not recover until he 
is returned to her. I want to keep Elisa- 
beth and I don’t want Billy. I believe that 
we can console her for his loss, and that 
she will be a stronger child without him. 
Please tell us what you think?” 

“Of course Elisabeth would get over it 
in time,” he said. “She is only a child. 
Yet if I were you I’d let her keep the dog. 
He is probably a great comfort to her. He 
keeps her out of doors and he occupies her 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 73 

mind. The care of an animal is educa- 
tional to a child. You wouldn’t mind him 
nearly so much after a while. We have 
a dog at home that we have had for fifteen 
years. My wife wouldn’t part with him 
for any money, yet she disliked him in- 
tensely at first. 

“It is curious how deeply attached one 
can get to a dog, and how if you have one 
of your own you become concerned about 
all others. Perhaps you will think I am 
foolish when I tell you that I am thinking 
quite as much about Billy as Elisabeth this 
evening. I know he is pitiful in his grief. 
Elisabeth might get over losing him, but 
he could not survive her loss.” 

“He is only a dog, and a mongrel at 
that!” Mrs. Thomson exclaimed. 

“I am afraid you don’t know dogs very 
well,” the doctor said with a smile. “Billy 
will teach you a lot if you keep him. For 


74 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

seven years he has been Elisabeth’s shadow, 
giving her the whole of his great heart’s 
devotion. If you don’t bring him back he 
cannot live. I know dogs and I know 
Billy.” 

“That is a new idea to me,” Mrs. Thom- 
son said thoughtfully. “I have considered 
my own feelings and Elisabeth’s feelings 
but it never occurred to me Billy had any 
feelings.” 

Constance begged her mother to bring 
Billy back. “I feel lonesome without 
him,” she said, forgetting the many times 
she had complained of his being in the way, 
“and I feel sorry for Elisabeth. She 
hasn’t anybody belonging to her but Billy.” 

“He’s the only relation she has in the 
world,” said little Barry mournfully. 

Mrs. Lewis came to add her entreaties. 
Elisabeth, thought to be fast asleep, sud- 
denly appeared in the doorway. Her 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 75 

cheeks were crimson and her eyes very 
bright. 

“I have to have my dog,” she said desper- 
ately. “I have to have him now. I woke 
up and he wasn’t there.” She stretched out 
her arms to Mr. Thomson. “Won’t you 
get him for me, now, to-night?” 

“Yes,” he answered, “I will.” 

“Elisabeth,” Mrs. Thomson said quietly. 
“Wouldn’t you rather stay here without 
Billy, than go back to the institution with 
him?” 

“I want my dog.” The child trembled 
so that she could scarcely speak but her 
choice was plain. Mr. Thomson carried 
her back to bed. 

“Dinner is on the table,” he said. “As 
soon as I have eaten a bite or two I shall 
start out for Billy. Go to sleep. I prom- 
ise that the next time you wake Billy will 
be here in his chair beside you.” 


76 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Elisabeth obediently closed her eyes. 
She had implicit confidence in Mr. Thom- 
son. 

In the next room he turned to his wife. 
“What is your decision, Elisabeth and Billy, 
or neither Elisabeth nor Billy?” 

“Elisabeth and Billy, please, please,” 
Constance begged. 

Mrs. Thomson hesitated. “You don’t 
know how much you are asking, little 
daughter, but I suppose I can endure Billy 
for a few months longer. Bring him back 
and he may stay as long as we keep Elisa- 
beth.” 

Mrs. Lewis began to be worried about 
Emily when Mr. Lewis came from his 
home and reported she was not there. 
Norman guessed the truth. 

“Her bicycle is gone. She has ridden 
out to the farm after Billy. She will have 
some ride. It must be at least five miles.” 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 77 

“I wish that child wouldn’t let her heart 
run away with her head. She will be ex- 
hausted even if she isn’t injured by a ma- 
chine.” Mrs. Lewis turned to her husband. 
“You’ll have to go after her, Dick.” 

“I’ll pick her up on my way and bring 
her home with Billy,” Mr. Thomson said. 

“I’ll go with you,” Mr. Lewis volun- 
teered. “You might overlook her in the 
dark.” 

The two gentlemen departed in Mr. 
Thomson’s car and were off at full speed. 
Just before they reached the farm they 
came upon Emily sitting disconsolately by 
the roadside with a punctured tire. 

“I thought you would come for me,” she 
said with her arms about her father’s neck. 
“Please let’s go on and get Billy. We can 
keep him at our house for Elisabeth. You 
will be glad to, won’t you, father, for he is 
the dearest dog I ever knew, except our old 


78 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Laddie, and he doesn’t even try to harm 
Goldie.” 

She was told of Mrs. Thomson’s decision 
and made to realize that she had acted un- 
wisely in starting out alone, but her good 
motives were praised. 

When they reached the end of their jour- 
ney they received a warm welcome from 
Mr. Ellis who said he had had his hands 
full. 

“I wouldn’t have brought the dog if I 
had known he’d be so homesick. He 
wouldn’t eat nor drink nor make up with 
anybody though dogs usually take to me. 
He has just begged to go home till it was 
real pitiful and I had decided to take him 
in the morning. Seems like he’s been ex- 
pecting some one to come for him. He’ll 
be glad to see you.” 

He was so glad that he was hysterical, 
crying, barking, dancing, leaping first on 


MRS. THOMSON'S MISTAKE 79 

one and then the other, but always leading 
them toward the door. In his accustomed 
place on the front seat of the automobile, 
he pressed close to Mr. Thomson, whimper- 
ing, and trembling with impatience. 

When they arrived, Elisabeth was 
asleep, but still restless and troubled. Mr. 
Thomson cautioned Billy not to awaken 
her. That was asking too much, but even 
Mrs. Thomson was touched by the gentle 
way in which Billy approached the bed 
and slipped his head under the little girl’s 
hand. Elisabeth did not wholly awaken. 
She felt the dog’s familiar presence, gave 
a sigh of content, and fell into a deep and 
restful slumber, which continued late into 
the following day. 


CHAPTER V 


BILLY BECOMES A HERO 

E lisabeths nature was too 

sweet to allow any abiding rancor 
toward Mrs. Thomson, now that 
Billy was back and she and her dog were 
both to be allowed to remain at the white 
house. 

“I wish Billy could make you like him,” 
she said wistfully. “If only robbers would 
break in he would show you how he could 
protect the house. But of course robbers 
never come where there is a good watch 
dog. Wouldn’t it be great if the house 
should catch on fire some night? Billy 
would rouse us from our beds and save our 
lives. Then you would like him.” 

Mrs. Thomson laughed. “If it’s all the 


80 


BILLY BECOMES A HERO 81 

same to you, Elisabeth, I’d rather not un- 
dergo either a fire or a burglary even to 
prove Billy a hero. However, I’ll prom- 
ise to try to like him if you will keep him 
out of doors as much as possible, and off 
the drawing room couch and best rugs at 
all times.” 

Billy was easily trained. A few scold- 
ings, a few retributive imprisonments in 
the basement, taught him the required ta- 
boos. Mrs. Thomson still regarded him as 
a nuisance but she no longer made com- 
plaint. Then one day something hap- 
pened to convince her that even a dog can 
be of use. 

She was about to take the two little girls 
down town in her electric coupe. It was 
a beautiful little car, always clean and 
highly polished. The inside was pro- 
tected from the dust by dainty covers which 
were changed the moment a spot appeared. 


82 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

No wonder Mrs. Thomson steadfastly re- 
fused the children’s plea that Billy be al- 
lowed to enter, though his wagging tail and 
pleading eyes were hard to resist. 

“Take him in the back yard and leave 
him there,” she said to Elisabeth. “Con- 
stance, run over to Aunt Jessie’s and ask if 
she wants anything down town. Hurry 
both of you. I’ll wait for you in the shade 
across the street.” 

Before she could start Jennie called her 
into the house to the telephone. She left 
the door of the car ajar and the key in the 
switch, though she had been warned by her 
husband that same morning that auto- 
mobile thieves had been increasingly active 
throughout the city. Constance ran to- 
ward the Lewis’s, Elisabeth stood at 
the front gate calling Billy. 

He wagged his tail but refused to budge 
from a spot he had selected directly in 


BILLY BECOMES A HERO 83 

front of the coupe. Elisabeth started to- 
ward the house thinking he would follow. 
Then several things happened. 

A man emerged from behind a tree and 
sprang into the car. Billy sprang after 
him. The man grasped the steering rod 
with one hand and reached for the comp- 
troller with the other. Billy grabbed the 
man’s arm and hung on to it. The man 
dealt him a blow with his fist. Billy 
tightened his hold. His teeth penetrated 
the man’s sleeve to his flesh. With an ex- 
clamation of pain and fury the would-be- 
thief began to rain down blows on the dog’s 
head. Elisabeth ran screaming to Billy’s 
aid. The man tried to escape from the car, 
with Billy hanging to him. Elisabeth still 
screaming, collided with the man and im- 
peded his progress. 

As if by magic the quiet street filled with 
excited people. The man was held until 


84 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

the police arrived and took him into cus- 
tody. 

“We have been on his trail for weeks,” a 
policeman said. “He’s bagged more than 
one machine.” 

“I’d a bagged this one if it hadn’t been 
for that dog,” he boasted. 

Billy, who had been detached with some 
difficulty, growled an answer. 

The policemen drove off with their pris- 
oner. The crowd remained to congrat- 
ulate Mrs. Thomson and to laud Billy to 
the skies. Elisabeth beamed with pride. 
She couldn’t be told too often how wonder- 
ful Billy was. 

“He saved your car and he is a hero, 
isn’t he?” she said to Mrs. Thomson. 

“He did and he is, and I am more than 
grateful. Come on, old fellow, I’d rather 
have a car a bit soiled than no car at all. 
You have earned the right to ride.” 


BILLY BECOMES A HERO 85 

“Let’s stop by and tell father,” Con- 
stance suggested. 

To Elisabeth’s delight, Mrs. Thomson 
consented. Not only Mr. Thomson but 
every one else in the newspaper office 
stopped to listen. One of the reporters 
brought a camera and took Billy’s picture. 
Next morning, when Elisabeth read a full 
account of the- affair, with Billy headlined 
and pictured as a hero, her joy knew no 
bounds. She was disappointed, however, 
that in spite of Mrs. Thomson’s expressions 
of gratitude, that lady seemed no fonder 
of Billy than before. 

Although Elisabeth was improving stead- 
ily in health and spirits, she did not yet feel 
entirely at home at the Thomsons. ‘She 
realized that Mrs. Thomson felt no affection 
for her or Billy and that she was allowed to 
remain simply because Constance needed 
her company. Often when mother and 


86 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

daughter were together Elisabeth felt in the 
way. At such times she longed to run over 
to the Lewis’s where she knew the warmest 
of welcomes awaited her. Since this re- 
fuge was forbidden by Constance she 
learned to go to old colored Mandy for 
comfort. She always felt refreshed by her 
sojourn in the kitchen and usually re- 
mained there until Constance came to seek 
her. Mrs. Thomson was not conscious of 
Elisabeth’s loneliness, but she considered 
the little girl well-bred and tactful to take 
herself off when she was not needed. In 
fact Mrs. Thomson daily congratulated 
herself that she had secured so satisfactory 
a companion. 

Constance was less satisfied with Elisa- 
beth though much fonder of her than was 
her mother. Elisabeth did not, for in- 
stance, take a proper interest in dolls and 
the plays that group themselves about dolls, 


BILLY BECOMES A HERO 87 

though she played patiently enough any- 
thing that Constance suggested. She was 
a willing listener to Constance’s stories 
but was continually begging that Emily be 
invited to listen with her. Constance re- 
sented the fact that Elisabeth would have 
had Emily with them continually if she 
could. 

But Elisabeth’s greatest drawback was 
her absurd interest in animals. She 
couldn’t pass one on the street without stop- 
ping to speak to it, no matter how great 
was Constance’s hurry. The more forlorn 
and unattractive the animal the greater was 
Elisabeth’s delay. She had indeed a most 
disagreeable habit of turning back with a 
stray dog at her heels to lead it to the alley 
gate where she would feed it with scraps 
donated by the sympathetic Mandy, and 
give it water from a pan which she kept for 
the purpose. Constance’s part was to hold 


88 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

on to Billy, that is if the rescued dog were 
fully grown, to keep him from chasing 
it away in his jealousy. She found wait- 
ing for Elisabeth by no means amus- 
ing, especially as Billy resented his de- 
tention and required strength to hold 
him. 

Even that wasn’t the worst. Not con- 
tent with succoring the animals she met, 
Elisabeth insisted upon worrying about 
their future. Who would furnish their 
next meal? Where would they find 
shelter that night? Constance neither 
knew nor cared. She didn’t want to be 
bothered. The dogs and cats didn’t be- 
long to them, she reasoned, so what business 
was it of theirs? 

“Suppose Billy should get lost and no 
one would feed him? It isn’t the animals’ 
fault that they have no home,” Elisabeth 
would contend. “They can’t help being 


BILLY BECOMES A HERO 89 

hungry and thirsty. Somebody ought to 
take care of them.” 

“We can’t, mother won’t let us,” was a 
sufficient reason to Constance for turning 
to more agreeable subjects. 

The neighborhood was just then infested 
with an unusually large number of strays. 
Some had been turned out upon the streets 
by owners who could no longer afford to 
keep them and who had not sufficient com- 
passion to find for them other homes. 
And humane people were so busy reliev- 
ing human distress that they had little time 
to consider these other innocent victims of 
the high cost of living. 

As a result of her indiscriminate charity 
Elisabeth had a bread line every day at the 
alley gate. Dogs and cats came' at dif- 
ferent hours but they came regularly and 
brought their friends. Elisabeth soon ex- 
hausted Mandy’s supplies, and though she 


90 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

used all her own pocket money and as 
much of Constance’s as she could beg away 
she could not obtain sufficient food. 

Emily soon discovered what was going 
on. She and Barry brought daily their 
contributions of food and love pats to the 
strays hungry for both. Constance did not 
attend these alley meetings so she did 
not know of the strong attachment grow- 
ing up between Elisabeth and Emily as 
a result of their common love of ani- 
mals. 

At last the strays became so numerous 
that Emily went to her parents for assist- 
ance. Mr. Lewis promptly informed Mr. 
Thomson of what was taking place at his 
alley gate, and the two gentlemen con- 
spired with Elizabeth for the animals’ re- 
lief. Most of them were gathered up and 
sent to good homes in the country. Mr. 
Ellis received three beautiful dogs to make 


BILLY BECOMES A HERO 91 

up to him for the loss of Billy. Others 
were humanely destroyed. 

“It is a crime that there isn’t a decent 
shelter for dogs and cats in the city,” Mr. 
Lewis said. “The two pounds are such 
wretched places that one hasn’t the heart to 
send a dog there, and the city has no ac- 
commodations for cats.” 

“We must see about that,” Mr. Thomson 
answered. “In the meantime you can’t be 
an animal rescue league all by yourself, 
Elisabeth.” 

“I know, but I can’t let the poor things 
starve.” 

“Of course you can’t,” Mr. Lewis 
agreed. “However, I think we have dis- 
posed of your collection now. If you find 
another stray, you may put him in the shed 
in my back yard. Emily will give him 
food and water, and I’ll attend to him 
when I come home at night. It isn’t right 


92 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

to congregate dogs in the alley. Don’t do 
it any more. The neighbors are complain- 
ing. Will you promise?” 

Elisabeth promised gladly on condition 
that Mr. Thomson arrange with Constance 
that she be allowed to go to the Lewis’s 
when she had a stray to deposit. Con- 
stance consented grudgingly, insisting that 
Elisabeth should not linger at the Lewis’s 
after her errand was accomplished. Emily 
was delighted with the new arrangement. 
Mr. Lewis and Norman built a wire fence 
about the shed, divided it into two parts, 
and fitted it up into comfortable quarters 
for a dog and a cat. Elisabeth had no dif- 
ficulty in providing occupants. Her only 
difficulty was remaining away from them 
and allowing Emily to attend to their feed- 
ing. Mr. Thomson as his share kept an 
advertisement in the daily papers for a 
good home for a dog and a cat. He also 


BILLY BECOMES A HERO 93 

made arrangements with a veterinarian 
to destroy in a painless manner the 
animals for which no homes could be 
found. 

Elisabeth’s problem was not entirely 
solved. She sometimes had more than one 
dog and cat on her hands at a time, and 
although «he frequently huddled two or 
three friendly beasts in the space reserved 
for one, she was still unable to provide 
shelter for all. She faithfully kept her 
promise to feed no more in the alley and 
was compelled to allow some to go hungry 
with the result that she could not properly 
enjoy her own meals. 

“Don’t bother about them,” Constance 
scolded. “They will get along all right 
somehow. Mother brought you here to 
make me happy and not to worry me with 
cats and dogs.” 

Elisabeth learned to keep her own coun- 


94 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

sel to Constance’s great relief and seldom 
referred to her charges unless she was alone 
with Emily or Mr. Thomson. Emily 
found Elisabeth so congenial that she tried 
in every way to make herself attractive to 
Constance in order to see more of the little 
companion. Constance was beginning to 
respond. She liked Elisabeth much more 
than Emily but she found her less inter- 
esting as a playmate. When the three 
played together they had a more enjoyable 
time than any two alone. Constance and 
Emily stimulated each other’s inventive- 
ness and concocted wonderful schemes for 
their amusement while Elisabeth kept 
peace between them. She acted as arbitra- 
tor in their many quarrels and they learned 
to accept her decisions even against them- 
selves. In spite of herself Constance was 
becoming more thoughtful and less domi- 
neering as a result of her intimate contact 


BILLY BECOMES A HERO 95 

with Elisabeth. She was particularly con- 
siderate of her little companion when Em- 
ily was with them, and Emily was properly 
impressed. 


CHAPTER VI 


A NEW PLAN 


O NE day Elisabeth ran away. 

Constance woke up feeling cross 
and unreasonable and everything 
that Elisabeth said or did made her more 
irritable. She called Elisabeth a “stupid 
old thing” and Elisabeth answered meekly 
that she supposed she was. Constance said 
she wished she had a companion like Emily, 
and Elisabeth said nothing at all but 
looked so hurt that Constance felt ashamed 
of herself and crosser than ever. Every- 
thing that Elisabeth said she contradicted, 
everything that Elisabeth proposed she 
objected to. At lunch she ignored her 
entirely. 

Elisabeth repaired to her room for a nap. 

96 


A NEW PLAN 97 

Constance followed. She was determined 
to justify her ill temper by provoking a dis- 
play of anger from Elisabeth, and began 
to berate Billy as the best means of attain- 
ing her purpose. 

“I don’t see how you can keep such a dog. 
He’s just a cur with an unstylish long tail. 
If he had been worth anything his tail 
would have been cut when he was a puppy. 
His long hind legs are ridiculous. Sup- 
pose he did save mother’s car? Any dog 
would do that much. He is such an ugly 
dog that mother and I are ashamed to have 
him on the place. If you must have a dog 
why don’t you get a thoroughbred that 
would look like something and have some 
sense?” 

Constance was frightened by the look on 
Elisabeth’s face. She tried to say that she 
was only in *fun but Elisabeth would listen 
to nothing more. Without a word the lit- 


98 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

tie companion caught up a hat, called her 
dog, and ran down stairs to the front gate 
through which she disappeared. 

She did not stop running until she had 
turned three corners, then paused for lack 
of breath. Billy wild with joy jumped 
upon her begging to continue the race. 
Suddenly her anger evaporated and she felt 
quite happy. Everybody knew that Billy 
was beautiful, and only wicked people 
would cut off a puppy’s tail. Constance 
had not meant a word she said, but she 
would leave her alone for a while just to 
show her she could not make such unkind 
remarks. Elisabeth would not run away 
for keeps. She did not want to leave her 
present home. Besides she had nowhere 
else to go. She and Billy would take a 
walk by themselves and then go back. The 
day was glorious, fresh and cool after last 


A NEW PLAN 99 

night’s storm. She ran and skipped along, 
Billy prancing beside her. 

At last she turned back, tired and ready 
to make her peace with Constance. A 
few blocks from home she happened to 
glance into a vacant lot and stood for a 
moment transfixed with horror. A boy 
was abusing a kitten. Like magic Elisa- 
beth changed from a timid little girl who 
hated to quarrel into a fierce Amazon 
eager for battle. Without waiting for 
Billy some distance ahead, without paus- 
ing to consider the size and strength of 
the boy, she rushed onto the lot and 
snatched the kitten. Before the boy could 
recover from the surprise of her on- 
slaught, she lowered her head, and using it 
as a battering ram made at him with such 
fury that he fell to the ground. Still un- 
satisfied Elisabeth kicked him. Then she 


100 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

turned to flee, the kitten tightly clasped in 
her arms. 

The boy scrambled to his feet in fury 
and Elisabeth would have paid heavily for 
her rashness had not Billy appeared. In- 
stantly grasping the situation he placed 
himself in position to attack. His growl 
and gleaming teeth were not to be disre- 
garded. The boy stepped back, his threat- 
ening arm falling to his side. 

Elisabeth ran, calling Billy to follow. 
They were pursued by stones and ugly 
words but Elisabeth was too much en- 
grossed with the kitten to pay much heed. 
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she in- 
spected the wee animal. She hurried to 
the Lewis’s for help, deposited the grimy 
kitten on Mrs. Lewis’s lap, and poured out 
her story. Mrs. Lewis examined the kit- 
ten tenderly. 

“We’ll put it to sleep with some chloro- 


A NEW PLAN 101 

form,” she said quietly, “so that it won’t 
suffer any more.” 

Unable to speak Elisabeth nodded as- 
sent. Emily, also in tears, helped her 
mother. In a few moments Mrs. Lewis 
said: 

“Now, no one can ever hurt that little 
cat again.” 

Norman came in. When he heard the 
story repeated he expressed his indigna- 
tion and wondered who the boy could 
have been. Elisabeth described him add- 
ing that she had heard him summoned to 
the house, a week ago, by the name of 
George. 

“George Smith! That’s exactly who it 
was. None of us fellows has any use for 
him. You’ll have to watch out, Elisabeth. 
He’ll get even with you some way. He’ll 
probably torment every cat in this part 
of town.” 


102 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“He’d better not,” Elisabeth returned, 
“unless he wants Mr. Thomson to whip 
him.” 

“Do you know,” Mrs. Lewis re- 
marked, “I don’t believe that whipping a 
boy like George, or knocking him down, 
does any good. There is always a better 
way to influence him.” 

“What else could I have done?” Elisa- 
beth asked. “I had to get the kit- 
ten.” 

“Bully for you,” Norman approved. 
“You’re not the namby-pamby I thought 
you were.” 

Emily awaited her mother’s answer. 

“Of course you did. But you might 
have persuaded George to give it to you 
and even to promise not to mistreat an- 
other. You might have made a friend in- 
stead of an enemy.” 

“Not of George,” Norman declared. 


A NEW PLAN 103 

“You don’t know him, mother. She did 
the only thing possible.” 

“But what is the use of saving one kit- 
ten at the expense of many others? This 
George must be brought to see the light 
somehow. Where does he live? I think 
we’ll give him a party.” 

“Give him a party,” the children 
echoed in astonishment. 

Mrs. Lewis laughed at their expres- 
sions, then became serious. “For some 
time now, ever since Elisabeth formed 
her bread line in the alley, I have been 
considering organizing a Band of Mercy. 
The time has come to begin. Suppose we 
invite the children living near, of course 
including George, to spend next Friday 
afternoon. We’ll play games first, and 
dance, and serve simple refreshments. 
Afterwards we’ll have a friend of mine 
give an illustrated talk on animals. 


104 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

When the children’s enthusiasm is aroused 
we’ll ask them to sign the Band of Mercy 
pledge which is: ‘I promise to try to be 
kind to all living creatures and to try to 
protect them from cruel usage.’ We 
will have regular meetings at which each 
member will be asked to report his kind 
acts. I’ll send to the Humane Society in 
Boston for silver star badges which the 
members may wear as long as they keep 
their pledge. We’ll elect officers. Per- 
haps we’ll make George president.” 

“George president! You are joking, 
mother,” said Norman. “Nobody would 
vote for him. I’d better be president. 
Eilsabeth can be vice-president and Emily 
secretary. I suppose Constance will want 
to be treasurer.” 

“And what can I be?” demanded Barry. 

Mrs. Lewis laughed. “How do you 
know that any one would vote for you! 


A NEW PLAN 105 

Well, if you won’t have George for pres- 
ident, let’s appoint him chairman of a com- 
mittee to report any act of cruelty com- 
mitted in the neighborhood.” 

“I get you,” Norman answered slangily, 
“but I don’t believe your scheme will 
work.” 

Mrs. Lewis nodded wisely. “We’ll see. 
Don’t mention our plans to any one ex- 
cept Constance, for we don’t want George 
to know that a conspiracy has been formed 
against him.” 

They planned the party in detail. Elisa- 
beth began to enjoy herself so much that 
she quite forgot she was paying a visit in 
defiance of Constance’s orders. Goldie 
was coaxed to perch on her finger and eat 
from her hand. The stray dog in the shed 
was brought in for a romp with Billy. 
Elisabeth was so happy that Mrs. Lewis 
let her stay until the last possible minute, 


106 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

and then sent her home with a kiss 
and most cordial invitation to come again 
soon. 

Elisabeth hurried to the white house 
wondering what her reception would be. 
She found the family awaiting her on the 
front porch. 

“Well, little runaway,” Mr. Thomson 
called cheerily. “It’s time you came. I 
was just about to start out after you.” 

“Where have you been all afternoon, 
Elisabeth,” Mrs. Thomson asked. 

“You had no right to run away,” Con- 
stance declared. 

Elisabeth slipped her hand into Mr. 
Thomson’s and standing close beside him 
told her story. 

“That’s what you get for running away,” 
said Constance. “Why did you?” 

“Because you were cross. You insulted 
Billy. You said— ” 


A NEW PLAN 107 

“Never mind what I said. You shouldn’t 
have gone. Mother thinks so, too.” 

“That is true,” Mrs. Thomson said 
firmly. “You must never again leave the 
grounds without permission. We were wor- 
ried about you until one of the children re- 
ported having seen you go to the Lewis’s.” 

“I am sorry you were worried,” Elisa- 
beth replied contritely, “I won’t run off 
again unless — ” she looked squarely at Con- 
stance, “you meant what you said about 
Billy.” 

“Well I didn’t,” Constance admitted. 
She had passed a wretchedly lonely after- 
noon and was so glad to have Elisabeth re- 
turn she was willing to make any conces- 
sion. “I just wanted to see if I could 
make you fly out at me for once. I won’t 
try again, and I love Billy really. But 
you must like me better than Emily, for 
you are my companion, not hers.” 


108 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“All right,” Elisabeth agreed, “if you 
will join the Band of Mercy.” 

“She certainly will,” Mrs. Thomson an- 
swered for her. “You two have kept to 
yourselves long enough. You are strong 
enough now, Elisabeth, to go about more, 
and I want Constance to come into con- 
tact with as many children as possible. 
Hereafter you will accept every invitation 
that you receive.” 

Both heard Mrs. Thomson’s pronounce- 
ment with pleasure. Elisabeth had grown 
tired of Constance’s imperious ways. Con- 
stance was beginning to weary of the un- 
ruffled amiability of her companion. 
Each would enjoy the other more when no 
longer isolated. 

Almost every evening after dinner the 
family went for a short drive in Mr. Thom- 
son’s car. Constance and her mother sat 
and exchanged confidences on the back 


A NEW PLAN 109 

seat, while Elisabeth and Billy occupied 
the front seat next to Mr. Thomson. Mrs. 
Thomson was responsible for the arrange- 
ment. She hoped that Elisabeth, who 
talked more freely to Mr. Thomson than to 
anyone else, would tell him more about 
herself. For the child’s own sake they 
were anxious to know her history and dis- 
cover any relatives who might have a 
claim to her. 

And on these evening drives Elisabeth 
had begun to tell a great deal about her 
parents and former life. She had given 
Mr. Thomson many clues which he was 
endeavoring to trace. No reply had as yet 
come from California. Tonight, however, 
Elisabeth wanted to discuss further the 
events of the afternoon. 

“Do you think,” she asked in a worried 
tone, “that Norman is right about George 
catching kittens to get even with me? 


110 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Aunt Jessie — she lets me call her that — 
says I could have found a better way 
to rescue the kitten than by knocking 
George down. But I liked knocking him 
down. I kicked him afterwards, and I’m 
glad.” 

Mr. Thomson was silent. 

“Say something,” Elisabeth urged. 

“Well then, I’ll tell you what I think. 
I think your first blow was righteous. 
You gave the boy what he deserved. I 
am sorry, though, that you struck him after 
he was down.” 

“I am glad.” 

“I’m sure you are sorry.” 

“No, I’m not, truly. Do you think 
Aunt Jessie should make him chairman of 
a committee?” 

“I think the plan is worth trying.” 

“If George hurts any more kittens, will 
you whip him.” 


A NEW PLAN 111 

“I’ll attend to him, somehow. Can’t 
you feel sorry for him because he has been 
taught no better?” 

“No,” she answered. “I hate cruel 
people and I hate George.” 


CHAPTER VII 


THE BAND OF MERCY 

N EXT day Mrs. Lewis investi- 
gated George and reported her 
findings to Elisabeth. 

“The poor child has been knocked 
about, and more or less neglected since 
babyhood. He has recently come here to 
live with his aunt who is poor and not 
especially glad to have him. He doesn’t 
need any more whippings. He needs kind- 
ness and friendship. I am sure we can 
make a different boy of him by including 
him in our good times. I want every one 
to make an effort to be cordial to him Fri- 
day afternoon. You will, won’t you, Elisa- 
beth?” 

“I am not sure,” she answered doubt- 


112 


THE BAND OF MERCY 113 

fully, “but I wish Friday would hurry up 
and come.” 

Constance was no less excited at the pros- 
pect of the party than Elisabeth. She 
secretly resolved to make herself as agree- 
able as possible that she might regain the 
friendship of the neighborhood children. 
She did not want Elisabeth to know of her 
unpopularity. Friday morning she helped 
give Billy his bath and donated one of her 
best hair ribbons for his adornment. 

A few moments before the appointed 
hour, the three set forth in their white 
dresses and ribbon bows. Billy was very 
conscious of his. He held high his tail with 
no idea that it was “unstylish” and waved 
it proudly as he escorted the little girls 
to the red house. They received a most 
enthusiastic welcome. 

The other guests arrived on time with the 
exception of George. Mrs. Lewis sent 


114 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Norman in search of him without whom 
the party would be a complete failure 
from her point of view. She was much 
relieved when Norman ushered in the 
most important guest who was so little 
aware of his importance that he had been 
unable to make up his mind to enter and 
was overcome to find every one so friendly. 
He blushed up to his ears, dug his toes in 
the rug, and hadn’t a word to say for him- 
self, until Billy growled at him, and Elisa- 
beth said reassuringly: 

“Don’t be afraid, I won’t let him hurt 
you.” 

“I ain’t afraid of any old cur like that,” 
he replied untruthfully. “If he bothers 
me, he’ll get what’s coming to him.” 

Elisabeth feeling Mrs. Lewis’s hand on 
her shoulder controlled herself and an- 
swered quietly: 

“If you will shake hands with me and 


THE BAND OF MERCY 115 

speak pleasantly, Billy will understand 
that you do not mean to harm me, and he’ll 
leave you alone.” 

George wasn’t sure he didn’t mean to 
harm her at the first opportunity. Since 
every one was watching him expectantly, 
however, he awkwardly extended his hand. 
It was not strictly clean. Elisabeth re- 
leased it at once, told Billy he was not to 
molest George, and withdrew to the other 
side of the room. 

She was an object of interest to all the 
guests. The fact that she was different 
from themselves, an orphan living in a 
home not her own, would have been suf- 
ficient to attract them. In addition, they 
had heard Emily’s enthusiastic descrip- 
tions of her sweetness and courage, and 
she responded to their stares with her 
friendly smile, which as Emily declared, 
made one feel like hugging her. Billy fa- 


116 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

cilitated the process of becoming ac- 
quainted as the children crowded about 
him and his mistress. Elisabeth met their 
advances with such a timidly friendly 
manner that each child felt a desire to take 
care of her and make her have a good time. 
She was in such demand that for the mo- 
ment she quite forgot Constance and aban- 
doned herself to the laughter and fun. 

Constance was disregarded. For the 
first time she completely realized how un- 
popular she had made herself. She re- 
membered that the children had gathered 
about her when she first came as they now 
gathered about Elisabeth, but whereas 
Elisabeth would know how to keep them 
for friends she had repelled them by her 
attitude of superiority and inability to 
play fair. She felt hurt and sorry, envious 
and angry. She decided to take Elisabeth 
home. 


THE BAND OF MERCY 117 

A few weeks before she would have 
carried out her decision at once. But 
Constance had not lived the past few weeks 
in vain. She had been forced to consider 
Elisabeth in many ways because of the 
little companion’s lack of strength. She 
had honestly tried to be less domineering 
and selfish. Now she stopped to think of 
Elisabeth as well as of herself. She con- 
trasted Elisabeth’s present expression of 
happiness with the patient look that had 
become habitual. For the first time the 
thought occurred to Constance that Elisa- 
beth’s position had not been pleasant, that 
there had been times when the little com- 
panion had felt as wretched and lonely 
as she herself felt at that moment. She re- 
membered that Elisabeth had never been 
ugly or unkind in spite of great provoca- 
tion. 

Mrs. Lewis joined Constance on the sofa. 


118 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Why are you sitting here alone looking 
so sober?” she asked. “What are you 
thinking about?” 

“Elisabeth,” Constance answered. 

“Isn’t it great to see her so happy?” Mrs. 
Lewis said cordially. “Do you ever put 
yourself in her place, Constance? Sup- 
pose you should have to leave your parents 
to go into some one else’s home to be com- 
panion to another little girl who had every- 
thing, don’t you think she would have to 
be exceptionally kind to make up to you 
for your loss?” 

Constance nodded thoughtfully. 

Mrs. Lewis was called away. Emily 
took her place for a moment until she too 
had to leave in response to an invitation 
to dance. Constance again left alone de- 
cided to stay to the end of the party for 
Elisabeth’s sake. This, her first true sacri- 
fice, brought such a sweet expression to her 


THE BAND OF MERCY 119 

face and made her so beautiful that Mrs. 
Lewis longed for a portrait of her as she 
sat there alone on the sofa. 

It wasn’t long before Elisabeth noticed 
Constance’s isolation. She saw with sur- 
prise that no one except the Lewises chose 
her in the games or sat beside her to rest 
and talk. Deeply concerned she hurried 
to take her place beside Constance and did 
not leave her again. The others gathered 
about the sofa. Constance tried to enter 
into the fun and lively talk, alarmed to dis- 
cover that it is easier to lose friends than 
to make them. She was glad when Billy 
snuggled up against her and put his head 
in her lap. 

Norman had his hands full with George, 
who as soon as he recovered from a violent 
attack of bashfulness became boisterously 
happy. His manners were deplorable. 
Fastidious Elisabeth could not bear to 


120 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

watch him when the refreshments were 
served. Constance regarded him with wide- 
eyed astonishment as he crammed an en- 
tire cookie into his mouth, at the same time 
helping himself to another. 

After the ice cream and cake had been 
disposed of, Mrs. Lewis assembled the 
guests on the floor facing a sheet which had 
been the object of the liveliest curiosity. 

“Mrs. Welton has some pictures to show 
you,” she said, “and some stories to tell. 
When she finishes I have a plan for a club.” 

Mrs. Welton was so alive and interested 
in her subject that she held her audience 
spellbound. Most of the stories and pic- 
tures were of ordinary horses, dogs, cats, 
and birds, showing how lovable these crea- 
tures are, how happy when kindly treated, 
how wretched when abused or deserted. 
The true history of one little dog was re- 
lated. 


THE BAND OF MERCY 121 

When a wee puppy the little fellow had 
been taken into her home by a certain 
woman and kindly cared for. When the 
puppy became a grown dog, the woman 
was forced to leave her house to move into 
an apartment where pets were not allowed. 
She tried in vain to find a home for Jack. 
Apparently no one wanted him. A 
friend who loved dogs advised her to put 
the little fellow to sleep with chloroform. 
The woman indignantly refused, declaring 
she was much too tender hearted. The 
day she was to move she took the trusting 
little animal down town, to an unfamiliar 
part of the city and contrived to lose him 
in the crowd, excusing herself by the 
thought that he would surely be taken up 
and given a home by some kind person 
who wanted a dog. 

A picture was shown of that woman at 
night, fast asleep, in her warm comfortable 


122 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

bed, while the little dog was shown crouch- 
ing against a wall on the hard brick pave- 
ment, shivering with cold, grief, and lone- 
liness. How much kinder the woman 
would have been, had she taken her 
friend’s advice! How could she sleep 
after abandoning her faithful compan- 
ion? 

Throughout the day the little fellow had 
tried to find her, never dreaming she had 
lost him on purpose. Because he had been 
kindly treated he thought all people were 
kind. He approached hopefully every 
passer-by, asking with a wag of his tail and 
a pleading look in his beautiful eyes to be 
taken to his home. To his bewilderment 
he met with nothing but rebuffs. Some 
people ordered him away more or less 
gently. Others were harsh. Some even 
drove him off with blows, the first he had 
ever received. His tail drooped and he 


THE BAND OF MERCY 123 

slunk into corners whence he was driven 
by boys throwing stones. He grew hun- 
gry and thirsty. He could find nothing to 
eat, nothing, to drink, no one to say a kind 
word. Poor little dog! He couldn’t un- 
derstand why every one was suddenly so 
cruel. He had done nothing wrong. He 
asked only to be taken home. When night 
came on, for the first time in his life, he 
had no shelter. 

The next day was a repetition of the first 
with added torments. A stone hurled by a 
great sturdy boy, five times his size, struck 
and broke his leg. To his loneliness, 
terror, and famine, was added an aching 
pain. He no longer appealed to people 
for help. He fled on his three legs when 
any one came near. Finally, he was so 
crazed for water that he cautiously ap- 
proached a yard in which a bucket was 
standing. He was frightened away by the 


124 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

mistress of the house who said she thought 
the dog looked mad. 

He did go mad for water, and rushed 
wildly up and down the street. People 
were now afraid of him. He was reported 
to the police who hunted him into an alley. 
It is a pity his former mistress could not 
have seen him lying there moaning with 
pain. She would scarcely have recog- 
ized him so greatly was he changed by two 
days of misery. 

Then, came along a Band of Mercy boy 
with love and understandng in his heart. 

“Please leave him alone,” he said to the 
policeman, “he is only hungry and thirsty 
and hurt.” 

As he spoke he placed a pan of water 
as near as the dog would allow him to come. 
He retreated and watched from a distance. 
The famished animal dragged itself to the 
pan and drank feverishly. The boy threw 


THE BAND OF MERCY 125 

him a scrap of food. He threw more, ad- 
vancing slowly and speaking reassuring 
words in a gentle tone. Finally, the dog 
regained sufficient confidence to take a 
morsel from the boy’s hand. The rest 
was easy. The boy alternately fed and 
petted him until the dog allowed himself 
to be lifted tenderly in the strong young 
arms and was borne away to peace. 

But the “tender-hearted” woman never 
knew the misery she had caused. 

Some of the stories related heroic deeds 
performed by dogs in war. Some were 
amusing incidents in the lives of wild an- 
imals. Most of them were sad. Mrs. 
Welton knew about George, and was de- 
termined to reach his stony heart. She 
talked directly to him, making the suffer- 
ings of abused animals, especially cats, so 
real that at last she had the satisfaction of 
seeing him brush away a tear. 


126 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

The other more sensitive children, in- 
cluding Constance who was more deeply 
moved than she had ever been before, 
sobbed outright. Mrs. Welton and Mrs. 
Lewis having attained their object in re- 
gard to George set about restoring cheer- 
fulness. Mrs. Welton had her most amus- 
ing pictures thrown upon the screen while 
Mrs. Lewis began to draw up the shades in 
the adjoining room for some hilarious 
game. Meantime Billy created a welcome 
diversion. Escaping from the kitchen 
where he had been confined with a plate 
of ice cream to keep him busy, he came 
bounding into the darkened room in time 
to see the life-sized picture of a dog. He 
immediately challenged it to battle with 
barks and growls, excursions and retreats. 
When he approached closely he found the 
dog had run away and a large cat stood in 
its place. He started to chase the cat, 


THE BAND OF MERCY 127 

struck the sheet, realized that he had been 
fooled, and ran to Elisabeth looking so 
sheepish that the children laughed. 

The screen and stereopticon were then 
removed and light admitted. Mrs. Lewis 
proceeded to organize the Band of Mercy. 
Every one present was glad to sign the 
pledge and anxious to earn the right to 
wear the silver badge held up for inspec- 
tion. It was decided to have meetings 
every other Friday afternoon when the 
members would be given an opportunity 
to report their kind acts. 

The members promised as a means of ful- 
filling their pledge to provide a good 
home for any pet they could no longer 
keep: to speak kindly to, and place food 
and water within the reach of, any stray 
animal seeking refuge on their premises, 
but to abstain from touching such animal 
until some grown person had pronounced 


128 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

it harmless: to keep strays until homes 
could be found for them, or until they 
could be humanely put to death : to 
report to the Humane Society cases of un- 
kindness and cruelty, also the whereabouts 
of injured animals: to abstain from catch- 
ing fireflies, butterflies, toads, and all other 
harmless creatures: to protect and feed the 
birds: to apply the golden rule alike to 
people and animals. 

“Remember,” Mrs. Lewis said, “that 
you are ‘living creatures’ ; and therefore you 
have pledged yourselves to be kind to one 
another as well as to the animals.” 

Officers were elected. Norman, at his 
own modest suggestion, was made presi- 
dent. Esther was chosen vice-president 
after Elisabeth refused the office declaring 
it would “scare her to death” to preside. 
Dick, Norman’s special cronie, was given 
the combined office of secretary and treas- 


THE BAND OF MERCY 129 

urer. George, to his astonishment, found 
himself chairman of the most important 
committee. Filled with pride he openly 
boasted that he would “do a plenty” to any 
one caught committing a cruel act. Mrs. 
Lewis was so pleased with his zeal in a 
righteous cause that she made no effort at 
this time to teach him moderation. She 
did not neglect to remind Elisabeth, how- 
ever, that George was a “living creature.” 
Elisabeth promised to be as kind to him as 
was possible on that account. 

She and Constance went home with 
their arms intertwined, talking earnestly. 
Constance’s sympathy for animals had been 
aroused to such a degree that she felt more 
congenial with Elisabeth than ever before, 
and she had been imbued with a real de- 
sire to be kind. Moreover, she made up 
her mind to win the liking of the other 
children. With a humility as deep as it 


130 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

was new she turned to Elisabeth for advice 
and help. 

Elisabeth was most reassuring. “Just be 
as nice to the others as you are most the 
time to me’” she said with an affectionate 
hug which was warmly returned. 

“Did you have a good time?” Mrs. 
Thomson asked. 

“Lovely time,” the little girls answered 
in chorus while Billy wagged his tail. 

But that evening in the automobile Con- 
stance confided to her mother her disap- 
pointment that she had not been elected 
president of the Band. “You see, mother, 
I have been to so many grown people’s 
meetings that I know better than the others 
how a meeting should be conducted. I 
could preside well, I know I could, and 
keep order much better than Norman. I 
wish the children had elected me.” 

Meantime Elisabeth said to Mr. Thom- 


THE BAND OF MERCY 131 

son. “I had a wonderful time and every- 
thing was lovely, but I do think Mrs. Wel- 
ton might have told how Billy saved Mrs. 
Thomson’s car from being stolen. She 
knew about it, she said she saw the account 
in the paper, but she didn’t mention it 
once.” 

“Well, honey, the children in the neigh- 
borhood know of Billy’s heroism.” 

“George doesn’t. I have promised to be 
kind to George because he is a ‘living crea- 
ture,’ and I shall do my best. But I’d like 
to have him appreciate Billy and not call 
him ‘an old cur’ again.” 


CHAPTER VIII 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 

M RS. LEWIS and Mrs. Thomson 
sat on the porch of the white 
house, knitting as they talked. 
“I must admit your plan has worked out 
much better than I expected,’’ Mrs. Lewis 
said glancing toward the four girls, Con- 
stance, Elisabeth, Emily, and Esther play- 
ing contentedly down by the swing. 

“It has worked far too well,” Mrs. 
Thomson replied. “I wished a com- 
panion for Constance, not for every child 
in the neighborhood. There isn’t a girl 
for blocks around who doesn’t seem to 
think that Elisabeth was brought here for 
her especial benefit. Some of the boys 


132 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 133 


have a similar conception and the house is 
filled from morning till night. What is 
her power of attraction? I can under- 
stand Emily’s popularity. She is so lively 
and adventuresome. I can understand 
the growing liking of the children 
for Constance as they know her better. 
She certainly is a fascinating child, if I 
do say it ‘as shouldn’t.’ But what do they 
see in Elisabeth? She is such a quiet, 
meek, timid little soul that I should think 
she would be entirely overlooked. Why 
do the children love her?” 

“Because she is filled to the brim with the 
milk of human kindness. She simply radi- 
ates friendliness, sympathy, and good will. 
She draws every one to her by the power 
of her smile. I love her dearly, don’t 
you?” 

“No, though I must say she is a helpful 
little girl, and her influence over Con- 


134 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

stance is beneficial. Through her my 
child is surely being brought into contact 
with other children, and is learning to 
adapt herself to them, but the noise and 
confusion almost drive me wild. You 
don’t know what a relief it is when evening 
comes.” 

“You are so difficult to satisfy,” Mrs. 
Lewis said with a laugh. “A few weeks 
ago you were complaining that Constance 
had no company, now you complain be- 
cause she has too much.” 

“And that isn’t the worst,” Mrs. Thom- 
son continued unheedingly. “Not content 
to be the companion and intimate friend 
of every child, Elisabeth extends her affec- 
tions to every animal. In most respects 
she is fastidiousness itself, but truly the 
dirtier and more unprepossessing the ani- 
mal, the more Elisabeth desires it for her 
own. As for that club of yours, I haven’t 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 135 


words to express my opinion. Even Con- 
stance is being affected.” 

“She is becoming one of my best 
workers.” 

“You are quite right, she is. Every one 
in this house is. If any man in the city 
wishes to beat his horse, or use a tight 
check rein, he deliberately chooses our 
street for the purpose, and always when 
Constance and Elisabeth are at the window 
or in the yard. To prevent their hurling 
themselves upon the driver I am obliged 
to berate him myself, and then go to the 
trouble to take his number and report him 
to the Humane Society. As for stray dogs 
and cats I Well, I have simply forbidden 
the children to bring in another one. I 
will not have the premises littered up. It 
is enough that I am obliged to endure 
Billy. When I again suggested sending 
him to a good home in the country, not 


136 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

only Elisabeth, but Constance went into 
hysterics. It’s your fault, you know.” 

“Yes, I know,” Mrs. Lewis answered 
soothingly. “I know also that you are be- 
coming as much interested as the children, 
that you would under no circumstances 
send Billy away, and that you are begin- 
ing to look out for strays yourself. In 
fact you are so effective a worker that I 
think the Band must receive you as 
a member and pin a badge on you at this 
afternoon’s meeting.” 

The mothers had been invited to the 
meeting to be held that day. Some of 
them were not in sympathy with the work. 
Their love of animals did not include stray 
dogs and cats. They were not as enthusi- 
astic as the members in offering food and 
water to all who applied. Careful house- 
wives complained of muddy tracks left on 
freshly scrubbed sidewalks. Nervous res- 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 137 

idents protested against various noises em- 
anating from basements and back yards 
where strays had been placed for tempor- 
ary safe keeping. Mrs. Lewis wanted to 
convince the mothers that the compassion 
and sense of justice being aroused in their 
children and the good actually accom- 
plished were worth some inconvenience. 

The meeting was held at the Thomson’s 
house instead of the Lewis’s because it was 
larger. Mrs. Welton gave another illus- 
trated talk which was enjoyed quite as 
much by the adults as by the children. 
The regular meeting followed. The pres- 
ident with great dignity called it to order. 
The members rose and repeated the pledge. 
The minutes of the last meeting were read 
and approved. New members were re- 
ceived. The roll was called and each 
member reported any kind act he had been 
able to perform. 


138 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Several reported that they had asked, in 
their most polite manner, men to stop whip- 
ping their horses; others that they had 
asked tradesmen to move horses left to 
stand in the hot sun into the shade. Barry 
became confused when called upon. 

“I saw a man beating his horse,” he 
said, “and I asked him to put it in the 
shade.” 

The children controlled their mirth. 
The grown-up, less considerate, laughed so 
heartily that Barry hid his head in Elisa- 
beth’s lap. Two members told of return- 
ing a lost dog to its owner. 

“It had a license tag on its collar. We 
telephoned to the Sinking Fund office the 
license number and the man gave us the 
owner’s name and address. We took the 
dog home way down to the other part of 
the city, and the lady was so glad to get 
him back that she insisted on giving us 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 139 


each a dollar which we handed over to the 
treasurer.” 

“Why didn’t you keep the money?” 
George inquired in a whisper. 

“We didn’t want any reward,” was the 
indignant answer. “We were onlv too 
glad to help the dog.” 

The report was loudly applauded. So 
was the one made by Constance. 

“A horse overcome by the heat in front 
of our house fell down. The driver kicked 
him. Neither mother nor Aunt Jessie was 
home. Elisabeth and I ran out in the 
street and told the man he must leave the 
horse alone. He said he would kick it as 
much as he pleased and for us to go mind 
our own business. We said we were mind- 
ing our business and showed him our 
badges. I left Elisabeth to argue with 
him and ran in to telephone the Humane 
Society. When I went back I found that 


140 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Elisabeth had made friends with the man. 
She remembered that Aunt Jessie says you 
can do more good if you don’t lose your 
temper. So Elisabeth didn’t lose hers and 
she persuaded the man to unharness the 
horse so it could lie flat and let us bathe its 
head and mouth with cool water. We 
kept the flies away too. When the agent 
of the Humane Society came he said we 
had done exactly the right thing and had 
probably saved the horse’s life. As soon 
as the poor fellow could get on his feet and 
walk, the agent led him home and talked to 
the owner and the driver. The driver 
gave Elisabeth a big red apple, and the 
owner telephoned my father and asked if 
there wasn’t something he could do for 
Elisabeth and me. Father told him please 
to see that all his drivers were kind to his 
horses hereafter and he said he would.” 

Norman’s story interested the members. 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 141 


“One evening, after dinner, we heard a cat 
crying, but search as we would we could 
not find it. After a while Barry remem- 
bered that early in the afternoon he had 
seen a dog chase a kitten up the tall tree in 
front of our house. He had called the dog 
off and supposed the kitten had come down 
long ago. I knew that small kittens often 
become so frightened that they can’t climb 
down from high places. We couldn’t 
see the kitten but we could hear it plainly 
in the tree. Even when I climbed up in 
the tree I couldn’t see it. I didn’t know 
what to do. The poor little thing had 
been up there for hours and was screaming 
with all its might. Elisabeth suggested the 
firemen could help us if they would. Cap- 
tain Macky is a friend of mine, and he sent 
one of his men as soon as I asked him. It 
was great fun, every one thought our house 
was on fire, and a crowd collected. The 


142 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

fireman had spikes in his boots, so he could 
climb to the top of the tree. He grabbed 
the kitten and threw it down to mother 
who caught it in her shawl. It wasn’t hurt 
and drank the milk we gave it. It’s a good 
cat and we are trying to keep it, but we 
can’t let it inside the house on account of 
Goldie.” 

Many members reported the rescue of 
one or more cats of which there seemed to 
be an inexhaustible supply in the neighbor- 
hood. The city provided no shelter for 
them and the members were at their wits’ 
ends to know what to do with the surplus 
after every one allowed to keep a cat had 
been supplied. Mrs. Lewis reported that 
she had mercifully disposed of twenty by 
means of chloroform since the last meeting, 
and had found homes through newspaper 
advertisements for six more. 

At the close of the reports Mrs. Lewis 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 143 


introduced Dr. Johnson of the government 
health service. He made a short address. 

“I have been greatly interested in the 
proceedings this afternoon, and I wish to 
tell you that I am in hearty sympathy with 
the objects and methods of this club. You 
boys and girls are becoming good citizens 
as well as humanitarians as you go about 
preventing and relieving suffering. Un- 
cared-for homeless animals are not only a 
misery to themselves but also a menace to the 
community. Too frequently, as a result of 
our neglect they become vicious and diseased 
inflicting injuries on human beings. They 
destroy our rest at night by their justifiable 
complaints. They distress us when we see 
them wandering on the streets, hungry and 
abused. I should like you boys and girls 
to remember throughout your lives and act 
upon the knowledge, that every animal 
which man has made dependent on him for 


144 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

support, has a right either to a comfortable 
home or to a quick and merciful destruc- 
tion. I may say in closing, that if every 
neighborhood in this city would follow 
your example we should soon have a safer, 
happier place in which to live.” 

Dr. Johnson spoke so earnestly that he 
made the mothers feel the Band of Mercy 
was a valuable organization, and they 
promised their cooperation in the future. 

After the meeting, Mrs. Thomson asked 
Constance and Elisabeth to go on an 
errand. Constance demurred. She was 
too tired. Elisabeth offered to go without 
her. 

“Billy needs a walk, any way.” 

“Daughter, I wish you were as obliging 
as Elisabeth,” Mrs. Thomson said. 

On her way back from the grocery, 
Elisabeth heard the cry of a cat in distress 
and spied a kitten so tiny that she could 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 145 


scarcely believe it capable of such vocifer- 
ation. A black and white ball, no larger 
than her hand, it sat at the gate of a vacant 
house bewailing its desertion. Elisabeth 
clasped it in her arms and wondered what 
to do next. The kitten, sure that its 
troubles were over, nestled against her with 
a contented purr. 

Elisabeth knew she could find no home 
for the soft baby thing. The neighbor- 
hood was supplied and no answer had been 
received recently to the advertisement, 
“good home wanted for a cat,” inserted in 
the daily papers. Aunt Jessie could be 
trusted to dispose of it in a painless manner, 
but it was such an unusually dear little cat 
that Elisabeth felt it should be allowed to 
grow up. Mr. Thomson and Constance 
would be glad to have it, she knew, but 
Mrs. Thomson would order it from the 
house. Elisabeth sighed. If only Mrs. 


146 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Thomson would grow fond of her and 
Billy and animals, how pleasant life would 
be! As it was she could see no escape for 
the kitten from Aunt Jessie’s sleeping po- 
tion. Nevertheless she carried it home. 

“It’s a cunning thing, much prettier than 
Emily’s,” Constance said. “Come on, I’ll 
help you beg mother to keep it.” 

Elisabeth approached Mrs. Thomson 
timidly, holding up the kitten for inspec- 
tion. “I had to pick it up,” she said. “It 
is so little and thin, and it cried so hard. 
I know you don’t like cats, but this is so 
young it won’t be a real cat for a long time, 
and perhaps by then you won’t mind. I’ll 
take it to Aunt Jessie if you say so, but I’d 
like to adopt it. I would keep it out doors 
in the daytime and in the basement at 
night. Constance would help me take 
care of it.” 

Constance added her entreaties. “Let’s 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 147 


keep it, mother. We are the only family 
in the neighborhood that hasn’t at least one 
cat, and the members of the Band are criti- 
cising us. We’ll be obliged to keep it to- 
night, for Aunt Jessie has gone out to 
dinner.” 

Mrs. Thomson hesitated. Recently as 
a result of contact with Elisabeth and Billy, 
as well as on account of the Band’s propa- 
ganda, she had become conscious of the an- 
imals about her. Formerly she had not 
even seen the horses, dogs, cats, she passed 
on the street. Now she saw them and 
noted their condition with an unwilling 
feeling of responsibility. She felt no affec- 
tion for them. Even Billy aroused in her 
only tolerance. She would, however, at 
considerable cost to herself, have protected 
him from abuse. She was beginning to 
wish to protect all animals. 

Moreover, the little kitten, which had 


148 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

scrambled down to the floor, and sat look- 
ing inquiringly into her face, had a distinct 
personality. It’s dignity and air of consid- 
ering itself on an equality with the humans 
about it, were so absurdly disproportionate 
to its size that Mrs. Thomson was amused 
in spite of herself. She never desired any- 
thing in her life less than that cat, but it 
evidently already regarded her house as its 
home. She knew no other refuge could be 
provided for it that night, and she could 
not turn it out on the street. 

“Oh,” she cried in exasperation. “I 
wish there were no cats or dogs in the 
world.” 

“Don’t wish that,” Elisabeth implored. 
“It would be such a lonesome world.” 

Billy returned from the pantry whither 
he had gone for water. To Mrs. Thom- 
son’s amazement Elisabeth made no effort 
to remove the kitten from his reach, and 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 149 


Billy made no effort to harm it. Instead 
he licked it as affectionately as its mother 
might have done. The little creature at 
first protested with hisses but finally sub- 
mitted. Then Billy, lay down beside it, 
his head resting against its tiny body. 

“Is Billy used to kittens?” Mrs. Thom- 
son asked. 

“We had one until Cousin Billy loves 

anything that’s a baby. This kitten’s name 
is Betsy and I am going to give her a bath.” 

“A bath!” Mrs. Thomson exclaimed. 
“Who ever heard of bathing a cat?” 

“We always bathed ours,” Elisabeth an- 
swered. “I was not allowed to play with 
any animal until the dirt and fleas had been 
washed off. Come on, Constance.” 

“I think I shall come too,” Mrs. Thom- 
son said. 

Now Betsy had never heard of bathing 
a cat either, and objected to the full capac- 


150 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

ity of her lungs. When she found herself 
immersed in the warm water, she squirmed 
and twisted and scratched. Elisabeth pa- 
tiently disentangled the clinging claws and 
applied the soap fjreely. Slippery with 
suds, Betsy wriggled through Elisabeth’s 
hands and sprang suddenly upon her 
back. 

“What will you do?” Constance cried 
excitedly, dancing about in a way to in- 
crease the kitten’s fright. “You can’t 
reach her, and you are already drenched.” 

“You take her off,” Elisabeth besought. 

“I’m afraid. You take her, mother.” 

“Not for anything,” Mrs. Thomson re- 
fused. 

“Call Mandy,” Elisabeth begged, mak- 
ing frantic efforts to dislodge the unhappy 
kitten. 

Mandy hurried to the rescue. The 
kitten sprang from her hands onto her head 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 151 

and dug its claws into her thick woolly 
hair. 

“It’s a demon! Take it off, it’s scalp- 
ing me,” screamed Mandy, rolling her eyes 
and making such ridiculous gyrations with 
her arms, that Constance and her mother 
were weak from laughter. Elisabeth de- 
tached the kitten and returned it to the 
water. 

“I don’t see anything to laugh at,” she 
said, much offended, scrubbing the subdued 
kitten with tender thoroughness. “Of 
course Betsy was scared of the water but 
she would soon have grown used to it if you 
hadn’t made so much noise. Next time I 
wash her — ” 

“Will there be a next time?” Mrs. Thom- 
son inquired. 

“I won’t let any one watch.” 

“Lawd, honey, I’d as lief wash a paper of 
pins,” said Mandy, ruefully rubbing her 


152 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

scratches. “Dat cat’s wusser’n a wiF in- 
dian wid a tommyhawk, an’ ef you take my 
advice, you’ll let her ten’ to her own baths 
same as she’s meant to.” 

“Cats that live with you have to be 
bathed,” Elizabeth insisted. “See, she’s 
sorry now.” 

The kitten had cuddled down in the 
warm towel and was purring as Elisabeth 
dried her. Mrs. Thomson was impressed 
by the fact that Elisabeth manifested no 
temper in spite of the scratches which must 
have smarted pretty badly, but handled the 
kitten as gently as at the beginning. 

After her bath, supper and a nap, Betsy 
showed herself so lively and playful that 
Mrs. Thomson allowed her in the living 
room where she entertained the family with 
her antics. 

The kitten became a strong bond between 
Constance and Elisabeth as together they 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 153 


cared for the little creature. She was 
placed in the basement at night and re- 
mained there contentedly until she heard 
the servants stirring in the morning. Then 
she had a cunning way of climbing on the 
banisters, peering through the glass door, 
and tapping on it with her tiny paw, until 
the door was opened for her. In the day- 
time she followed the children and Billy 
about the yard with the air of being quite 
as big as they. When they came into the 
house, she demanded admittance also, and 
with such pertinacity that denial was diffi- 
cult. Gradually she became established as 
a member of the household and was toler- 
ated by Mrs. Thomson even as Billy. 

Betsy seemed to feel the necessity of pla- 
cating Mrs. Thomson. She brought to her 
the occasional mouse she caught, though 
Mrs. Thomson was less appreciative than 
she expected. Elisabeth and Betsy had a 


154 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

chronic disagreement on the subject of 
mice. Elisabeth insisted that they be in- 
stantly dispatched and covered them with 
ill-smelling cotton so that they would not 
run any more. Betsy liked to play with her 
victims and resented Eisabeth’s interfer- 
ence. In other respects, however, she 
found the little girl so satisfactory that she 
preferred her to every one else. Every 
one except Billy. She learned to love him 
best of all her world. She played with 
him, rubbed against him purring loudly, 
kissed him affectionately, and took her naps 
with her head against his. When their 
meals were served, she frequently ignored 
her saucer to share the contents of his. 
Billy objected. He preferred to eat alone. 
When, however, she went on calmly taking 
her fill, paying no attention to his growls 
because she knew he would not hurt her, he 
would look up at Elisabeth with a comical 


ANOTHER STRAY KITTEN 155 

expression of perplexity, as much as to say: 
“What can you do with a cat like that?” 
Their friendship attracted* much attention, 
all of the Band coming to see the two to- 
gether. 

For the most part, now, Elisabeth was a 
happy little girl. She had gained many 
pounds during her two months with the 
Thomsons, and her eyes had lost something 
of their sadness. She felt sure of Mr. 
Thomson’s affection, and of Constance’s. 
Some day she hoped Mrs. Thomson would 
love her, too. 


CHAPTER IX 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 

C ONSTANCE, who had never 
been to school, looked forward 
to going with the liveliest antic- 
ipation. She and Elisabeth were both 
glad when Mrs. Thomson yielded to her 
husband’s wish in the matter and allowed 
them to enter the public school with the 
rest of the children early in September. 

But Constance was disappointed in 
school. She was humiliated to discover 
that she was far behind her class in certain 
subjects, so that the teachers talked of put- 
ting her back a grade, below Elisabeth and 
Emily, when she had supposed herself much 
further advanced than they. She found 
the school discipline irksome and broke so 

156 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 157 

many rules that she was in continual trou- 
ble. The other pupils instead of admiring 
her independence laughed at her “for be- 
having like a kindergarten baby.” If it 
had not been for Elisabeth who stood by 
her loyally, helping her with the difficult 
problems in Arithmetic and making her 
peace with teachers and pupils, Constance 
would probably have returned to the care 
of a governess. As it was, she gradually 
settled down to the daily routine, and with 
Elisabeth’s help managed to keep up with 
the class. Soon she found she was enjoy- 
ing school as much as she had hoped to. 

Elisabeth was vastly relieved. George 
remained, then, the only disturbing ele- 
ment in her busy, happy life. Although 
George was now an indefatigable worker 
in the Band of Mercy, he had not forgiven 
Elisabeth for the incident which brought 
him membership. He tormented no more 


158 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

cats; he tormented Elisabeth instead. As 
he was in the same grade at school, oppor- 
tunities to annoy her were amply suffi- 
cient. He pulled her braids, knocked her 
books from under her arm, erased her 
work from the board “by mistake” before 
it had been approved, turned over a bottle 
of ink on her dress, tripped her as she went 
up or down stairs. She could have put an 
end to his petty persecution by complain- 
ing to the teachers, but it was against the 
school code to bear tales, and besides she 
was honestly trying at Mrs. Lewis’s insti- 
gation to be kind to George. In fact 
George and his pranks disturbed her but 
little since they were directed toward her- 
self instead of animals, and she was pretty 
well content with her life both at school 
and at home. 

Until one day she overheard part of a 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 159 

conversation between Mrs. Thomson and 
Mrs. Lewis. 

The two ladies were in the living room 
enjoying a quiet chat, unaware that their 
voices could reach Elisabeth who was 
studying on the veranda. She did not in- 
tentionally eavesdrop, but heard her name 
just as she closed her book, and was too 
hurt and bewildered immediately to go 
away. 

“I wish some relative would come along 
to claim Elisabeth,” Mrs. Thomson said. 
“She has accomplished the purpose for 
which I brought her in a remarkably short 
time, and we really do not need her any 
longer. Constance is doing well at school 
and is making a place for herself among 
the children. Emily seems quite fond of 
her again.” 

“Surely you would not send Elisabeth 


160 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

away when she has done so much for Con- 
stance.” 

“Of course not, but I would be glad to 
turn her over to relatives. You don’t 
know how I long to be alone with my fam- 
ily once more! Elisabeth is such an ex- 
ceptional child that I am sure her relatives 
would be glad to have her if we could find 
them.” 

“I should miss her,” Mrs. Lewis 
said. 

“We all would. Constance would be 
lost for a while. She is really becoming 
too dependent on her considering the fact 
that we do not expect to keep her always. 
It is a queer thing that we can find none 
of the child’s relations. John has fol- 
lowed every clue she has given him. I 
think she is concealing something from us, 
have always thought so. You know there 
must be some explanation of the fact that 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 161 

a child like Elisabeth could be left un- 
claimed for four months.” 

“You must remember that very little 
prominence was given by the papers to the 
accident. It is quite possible that the Cal- 
ifornia cousins have never heard of it. 
You see it happened during a week of ex- 
citing foreign news, and I doubt if it were 
copied by papers of other cities.” 

“Perhaps. I do wish Elisabeth would 
tell all she knows.” 

Elisabeth ran up to her own room and 
closed the door. She threw herself on 
the floor beside Billy and burst into tears. 

“Oh, Billy Dog,” she moaned. “Mrs. 
Thomson doesn’t want us any more. 
What shall we do? We can’t go to Cousin 
Anne. She wouldn’t let me keep you. 
Besides, she is way over in France. At 
least I suppose she is. She’d have me 
sent to boarding school, and I couldn’t 


162 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

stand it without you. Oh, Billy, I thought 
they wanted us and needed us, and they 
don’t and we’ve nowhere else to go.” 

From that moment Elisabeth became 
as dejected in appearance as she had been 
at the institution four months before. 
Every one was worried and tried to find 
the cause of her trouble. Mrs. Thomson 
called the doctor. He could find no phys- 
ical cause for the little girl’s appearance. 
Mrs. Lewis and Constance sought her con- 
fidence in vain. Mr. Thomson was away 
on a business trip. His wife wrote him to 
come home sooner than he intended, on 
Elisabeth’s account. 

His arrival caused the little girl to be- 
come more animated, and that afternoon 
seated beside him in his car she chatted so 
happily that he concluded his/ wife had 
been needlessly worried. 

“Always in books,” she began, “the 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 163 

little girl turns out to be the niece or some 
relation of the people she goes to live with. 
I wish I’d turn out to be yours.” 

“So do I, but since each of my brothers 
and sisters is accounted for, I am afraid 
such a thing isn’t possible.” 

“I know it,” she said with a sigh. 
“When I was little, I couldn’t understand 
why I didn’t have aunts and uncles like 
other children, and only grown up cousins. 
My father and mother hadn’t any brothers 
or sisters and they were both orphans like 
me, only father had an uncle and mother 
had a step-mother when they were chil- 
dren. Sometimes I pretend that you are 
my uncle and that I really belong to 
you.” 

“Would you like to call me ‘Uncle John’ 
as Emily does?” 

“Yes,” she answered. 

“But are you sure, little girl, that there 


164 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

isn’t some one somewhere to whom you do 
belong even more than to me?” 

Elisabeth twisted uneasily in her seat 
and clutched Billy so tight that he gave a 
surprised yelp. 

“I don’t think you belong to people un- 
less you love them,” she answered. “My 
father knew a man who thought he owned 
a dog, but the dog didn’t like that man and 
kept running away to a man he did like, 
and both the men bought him a license, 
and each said he was his, and they went 
before a judge. The judge said: ‘Let the 
dog decide.’ Both men called him, and he 
went to the one he loved, and the judge 
said he belonged to that man, and I think 
the judge was right. My father thought 
so, too. I told Mandy about it and she 
thought the judge was right. I love 
Mandy. Whenever I feel low in my 
mind, as she says, Billy and I go to the 



“ ‘ BILLY AND I GO TO THE KITCHEN, AND SHE TELLS 

US STORIES ’ *' 








































. 



































/ 













. 



































ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 165 

kitchen and she tells us stories about Snow- 
ball her coal-black cat. She thinks Snow- 
ball is the most sensible cat in the world 
but I know he isn’t as clever as Betsy. 
What do you suppose Betsy did to-day?” 

“I can’t imagine.” 

“She jumped on my dresser and pulled 
the pins out of my cushion with her teeth, 
and she didn’t swallow even one. She 
grows more cunning and affectionate every 
day. Most cats draw away when you put 
your hand down to pat them, but Betsy 
raises up her head to meet your hand. 
She always answers me when I call her. 
She is afraid of other cats and runs to 
Billy for protection. George said he 
never saw a cat run to a dog before.” 

“I want to tell you about George,” she 
continued rapidly, perhaps to prevent the 
questions which she knew Mr. Thomson 
was about to ask her. “He is good to ani- 


166 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

mals now. Norman and Dick and Ralph 
have been watching him. They play they 
are three famous detectives. They wanted 
me to give him the poodle I found. I was 
afraid to: it was such a baby, so George 
dislikes me more than ever. Mr. Lewis 
bought him a great big dog at the pound 
and he tries to make it fight Billy. It’s 
too bad George dislikes me. No one ever 
did before except Cousin — ” She stopped 
short with an alarmed look at Mr. Thom- 
son. 

He, however, had not heard, being oc- 
cupied just then in passing another car in 
a narrow road. Elisabeth kept up her 
chatter throughout the drive and Mr. 
Thomson returned home none the wiser 
as to the cause of the little girl’s depres- 
sion. 

That night Elisabeth had a struggle 
with her conscience. 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 167 

“Now that Uncle John has come home, 
you must tell him about Cousin Anne,” 
Conscience said sternly. 

“I don’t know her address.” 

“He could find it.” 

“She’d send me off to boarding school.” 

“You have no right to stay here where 
you aren’t wanted.” 

“Everybody wants me except Mrs. 
Thomson.” 

“It’s her house.” 

“I don’t want to go away. I don’t want 
to belong to Cousin Anne. What could 
I do without Billy? What would happen 
to Betsey? I don’t want Cousin Anne to 
know where I am.” 

“She will know some day and she will 
be angry because you didn’t tell at first. 
The Thomsons will be angry too, espec- 
ially Mrs. Thomson. You had better tell 
Uncle John the truth in the morning, and 


168 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

not stay another day where you are not 
wanted.” 

“I’ll tell in the morning, truly I will,” 
she finally resolved. 

Meantime Mr. and Mrs. Thomson 
were discussing Elisabeth in their own 
room. 

“Well, then, John, if it is absolutely 
necessary for you to take that long journey 
across the ocean, right now, when condi- 
tions are still so unsettled and dangerous, 
I shall of course keep Elisabeth until you 
return; but you must discover the cause 
of her trouble. I shall be worried about 
you every moment and I cannot worry 
over her as well. I know she is concealing 
something from us and I must know what 
it is before you leave.” 

“I’ll have a long talk with her, to-mor- 
row,” he promised. 

Mrs. Thomson had known for some time 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 169 

of her husband’s proposed trip. She had 
asked him not to mention it to the children 
until the last moment secretly hoping 
something would prevent his going. Now 
however, they must be told, for he was 
planning to leave within ten days. 

He broke the news to Constance first. 
She was distressed at the thought of sepa- 
ration but comforted by the prospect of a 
trip to New York to see her father sail, 
and the promise of letters and gifts from 
abroad. 

This interview having proved so satis- 
factory, Mr. Thomson went in search of 
Elisabeth with no misgivings. He took 
the little girl in his arms. 

“Honey, you must tell me a number of 
things. Why you have looked so pale and 
sad lately and been ‘low in your mind’? 
What is the secret you are hiding away 
from all of us who love you? Why is it 


170 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

no one has come *to ask us about you? 
Next week I must go away for awhile, 
across the sea, and I cannot leave until 
you have told me all you know about your- 
self.” 

“You are going away?” Elisabeth 
gasped as though stunned by a heavy 
blow. 

“Yes, but I shall be gone but a short 
time, not more than two months prob- 
ably.” 

“Two months! Oh, what shall I do!” 
She began to cry so despairingly that Mr. 
Thomson grew alarmed. 

“Find Cousin Anne,” she sobbed. 
“She’ll take me away and you’ll never see 
me again.” 

“Who is Cousin Anne, Elisabeth?” 
“Why, father’s cousin. When he was 
twelve years old and an orphan she 
brought him up, and now she’ll bring me 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 171 

up, and she is the most awful person in the 
world.” 

“Where does she live?” 

“I don’t know her address. I don’t 
truly. She is over in France. She has 
lived there mostly since she was grown. 
Once she lived here in this very city with 
her father and my father until they all went 
to Europe. They lived* in a big house but 
I don’t know on what street. That last 
day in the automobile we were on our way 
to the house. We stopped here just to 
see it and then we never did.” 

“To whom does it belong?” 

“To me, father said so; but I can’t go 
live in it, for I don’t know where it is. 
Cousin Anne was living in Paris when 
France went to war. She came home and 
visited us for ever and ever so long. I 
thought she would never go away, but she 
did. When father went to the camp to be 


172 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

an aviator, she went back to work in the 
Red Cross and I was glad and so was my 
mother. Father expected to see her when 
he went to France but they kept him here 
to teach other men to be aviators and 
wouldn’t let him go and mother and I were 
glad, though we couldn’t see him often. 
Father said if anything happened to him, 
Cousin Anne would take care of mother 
and me, and mother said no, we would take 
care of ourselves, because we didn’t like 
her.” 

“Do you realize you are greatly to blame 
for keeping this information from me?” 

Elisabeth flushed crimson at his tone 
and a rush of tears prevented an immedi- 
ate answer. 

“But you don’t know Cousin Anne,” 
she finally defended herself. “You 
wouldn’t want her to take care of you 
either. She is cross the whole time. She 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 173 

loathes children and dogs and cats and 
everything like that. She wouldn’t let 
me talk or make any noise. If I did, 
she’d ask mother why she didn’t send me 
to boarding school. She stamped her foot 
at Billy whenever he came near her. And 
do you know what she did to my kitten? 
She threw it out of her room and hurt it. 

“She liked my father and that’s all. He 
liked her, and said that some day we’d live 
with her here in the big old house that 
belongs to me, but mother said no house 
was big enough for us and Cousin Anne. 
Father said I must love her on account of 
him, and because she was taking care of 
money and property and such things for 
me. I couldn’t love her then and I can’t 
love her now. I hoped she’d never know 
where I was. I hoped maybe the Ger- 
mans would get her. But now you are 
going away I don’t care what happens 


174 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

and if she wants me, she can have me. 

“Only of course she’d send me to board- 
ing school where I couldn’t have Billy. 
Perhaps we had better go back to the 
Home. But I don’t want to. I don’t 
want to belong to Cousin Anne. I want 
to belong to you. I didn’t think you 
would go away and leave me. Nobody 
loves me and I’m the most miserable child 
in the world.” 

Mr. Thomson soothed her as best he 
could, assuring her again and again of his 
affection. 

“If you loved me, you wouldn’t leave 
me,” she repeated. 

“I am leaving Mrs. Thomson and Con- 
stance.” 

“They have each other.” 

“And you have them.” 

“Mrs. Thomson doesn’t want me. I 
heard her tell Aunt Jessie so. That is 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 175 

why I was so wretched. She said Con- 
stance didn’t need me any more.” 

“She will need you while I am away 
and so will her mother. They themselves 
will tell you how much. I shall find 
your cousin’s address and send her a cable- 
gram at once. Perhaps I shall see her in 
France, and I shall ask her to let you stay 
here with us.” 

Mr. Thomson reported his conversation 
with Elisabeth to Mrs. Thomson and Con- 
stance. Both were intensely interested. 
Constance hurried to scold the little com- 
panion for daring to keep a secret from 
her. 

“Tell me every single thing about this 
Cousin Anne,” she commanded. “If she 
thinks she can take you away from me she’s 
mistaken. I couldn’t get along without 
you ever again.” 

Mrs. Thomson was much relieved. “I 


176 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

thought it strange,” she said to her hus- 
band, “that Mr. Howard had made no pro- 
vision for his daughter. We must com- 
municate with this cousin, but I am glad 
she is so far away that there is no danger 
of her taking Elisabeth at once.” 

To Elisabeth she said with great cordial- 
ity: “Constance will need you more than 
ever while her father is abroad. I am 
grateful that we may still keep you.” 

In spite of her grief over Mr. Thomson’s 
imminent departure, Elisabeth’s mind was 
more at rest than at any time since the ac- 
cident. With the revealing of her secret 
she felt as though a great burden had been 
removed. Moreover she knew she was 
welcome to stay with the Thomsons now 
until Cousin Anne should come for her. 
She hoped that would not be soon. 

Up to the moment of departure Mr. 
Thomson kept Elisabeth and Constance 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 177 

busy with his affairs when they were not 
occupied with school and lessons. Every 
afternoon they went on some sort of pleas- 
ure expedition. Billy was usually of the 
party, for he needed to have his mind 
diverted as well as the others. His eyes 
mourned and his tail dragged every time 
a trunk was opened, and he whimpered 
softly whenever Mr. Thomson left the 
house without him. He understood that 
the master was going away. 

Mr. Thomson was much affected by 
Billy’s attachment and talked to the dog as 
consolingly as to the children. When he 
told him good-by, he bade him protect his 
family and his home. Billy’s eyes prom- 
ised faithful service. Elisabeth could not 
say good-by. She fled to the Lewises and 
hid her head in Aunt Jessie’s lap. 

Mrs. Thomson and Constance accom- 
panied Mr. Thomson to New York that 


178 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

they might be with him until he sailed. 
Elisabeth, Billy, and Betsy went to stay 
with the Lewises where they were royally 
entertained. Emily especially did every- 
thing she could think of to make the 
visitors happy and contented. 

Billy felt his responsibility deeply as 
custodian of the white house. He visited 
it the first thing in the morning, the last 
thing at night, and many times throughout 
the day. At night, just before Mr. Lewis 
was ready to retire, he called the dog, let 
him out, and waited until he came back 
and barked for admission. 

One evening, a half hour passed and 
Billy did not return. Mr. Lewis went to 
investigate. He found Billy on the back 
porch of the white house and called him 
to come home. Billy wagged his tail so 
violently that Mr. Lewis could hear it 
thump, but Billy remained where he was. 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 179 

Mr. Lewis found the reason when he 
flashed his pocket light upon the porch. 
Billy had interrpted a would-be robber in 
an attempt to force an entrance through 
the kitchen window. The man was perched 
on the high sill in a most uncomfortable 
position which Billy insisted upon his re- 
taining. 

The malefactor on close inspection 
proved to be little more than a boy, who 
told so convincing a story of having at- 
tempted merely to procure food to sat- 
isfy a three day’s hunger, that Mr. Lewis 
decided to let him go. He had consider- 
able trouble to win Billy’s consent to 
the plan. Billy wanted to see the 
thief carried off in a wagon by the 
police. 

“Some dog,” the boy said admiringly. 
“He tore my sack to pieces and told me it 
was my turn next.” 


180 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Billy doesn’t like sacks, or men who 
carry them,” Mr. Lewis explained. 

“Sorry I didn’t know that. Can you 
hold him, Mister, till I make my get-away. 
I sure am obliged to you for letting me go. 
I won’t come again, any way not as long 
as you keep that beast.” 

With difficulty Mr. Lewis restrained 
Billy until the escape was effected. When 
freed, Billy encircled the grounds, barking 
and growling to such an extent that Elisa- 
beth awakened in alarm. When she heard 
an account of the adventure, she was 
pleased that her beloved dog had again 
proven his worth and was only sorry that 
the intruder had not been a more danger- 
ous sort. She was allowed to send a tele- 
gram to Mr. Thomson to tell him of Billy’s 
exploit and send her love and good wishes 
for a safe voyage. 

Mr. Thomson sent back a note full of 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 181 

affection for her and Billy. He promised 
to write often and bade her be waiting for 
him with Betsy and Billy on the front 
veranda when he returned. 

Elisabeth was almost sorry when Mrs. 
Thomson and Constance came back. She 
had enjoyed every moment of her stay at 
the Lewises, and she knew she should miss 
Uncle John in his own home more than 
anywhere else. 

Constance greeted Elisabeth and the 
animals with enthusiasm. She had to hear 
the full story of Billy and the burglar, 
and overwhelmed Billy with praise. 

“When your telegram came/’ she told 
Elisabeth, “father was pleased as could be. 
He said that next to me he thinks you are 
the nicest little girl in the world and that 
Billy is worth his weight in gold. Mother 
said we certainly are under obligations to 
you both, and that it is extraordinary how 


182 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

much sense Billy has, and that if ever she 
could be fond of a dog it would be Billy.’’ 

“Now sit down and listen to me,” she 
rattled on. “I’ll tell you every single 
thing we did.” 

Elisabeth listened attentively until Con- 
stance began to talk of Mr. Thomson’s de- 
parture on the big ship. 

“I don’t want to hear about that,” she 
said. 

“Then you are a queer girl and I don’t 
believe you care for my father after all,” 
Constance concluded. 

Mrs. Thomson understood better. “That 
child has remarkably deep feeling,” she 
said to Mrs. Lewis next da y. “She worries 
like a grown person. Last night, when the 
wind blew such a gale., I couldn’t sleep 
for wondering what sort of weather John’s 
ship was encountering. I wandered into 
Constance’s room to make sure that she at 


ELISABETH IS GRIEVED 183 

least was safe. She was sleeping quietly, 
but through the open door I heard Elisa- 
beth talking to her dog. She told him 
Uncle John’s ship was very large and 
strong and that most likely the stars were 
shining out at sea. I sat down beside 
her for a while and found it com- 
forting to have a companion to share my 
vigil.” 

Many a night afterwards Mrs. Thomson 
and Elisabeth, brought together by their 
common anxiety, comforted each other, 
and in doing so learned to understand and 
love each other. Elisabeth began to talk 
to Mrs. Thomson as freely as she had to 
Uncle John. She soon came to address 
her as “Aunt Harriet,” so close had grown 
their relationship. 

The eagerly awaited cablegram an- 
nouncing Mr. Thomson’s safe arrival came 
at last and was celebrated with great re- 


184 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

joicing. Then the family settled down to 
life without him; and life was so full of 
interests for the little girls that they found 
no time to sit and grieve. 


CHAPTER X 


GEORGE’S REVENGE 

B EFORE leaving the city Mr. 

Thomson had cabled Cousin 
Anne. He had found little diffi- 
culty in tracing her, for although she had 
spent most of her grown up life abroad, 
she had always kept in touch with the city 
she called home. If Elisabeth, directly 
after the accident, had mentioned the fact 
that she was related to Miss Anne Lee, 
several homes would have been opened to 
her. Had not the accident occurred at 
a time when the papers gave it little at- 
tention because of the absorbing foreign 
news, some one might have remembered 
that old Colonel Lee’s brother had settled 
in California many years before, and that 


185 


186 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

his grandson Sidney Howard, was the 
cousin and only living relative of Anne 
Lee. If old Mr. Lipton had not been 
away from home at the bedside of his sick 
wife, he would have remembered Sidney 
Howard as the little boy, son of his best 
friend, who had spent a year in the city 
with Anne and her father, before they all 
went aboard. 

At the bank, from which the address of 
Miss Lee’s bank in Paris was obtained, 
Mr. Thomson was informed that no com- 
munication had been received from Miss 
Lee for the past two months, but that 
money and mail were still being forwarded 
to her in Paris. 

As yet she had sent no reply to Mr. 
Thomson’s cable. 

Constance was glad. “I hope she didn’t 
get the message. I hope that no one will 
ever take you away from me.” 


GEORGE’S REVENGE 187 

During the next few weeks, however, it 
seemed as though every one were trying 
to take Elisabeth away. There came let- 
ters, telegrams, and visitors from every 
part of the country. Some two months 
ago, the Thomsons heard, Miss Lee had 
become so uneasy at receiving no word 
from Elisabeth’s father that she wrote to 
various friends asking for information. 
These friends had set to work to trace the 
little family, learning just now of the ac- 
cident, of Elisabeth’s commitment to the 
Home and subsequent transference to the 
Thomsons. 

A cousin in California who had seen no 
notice of the accident nor the advertise- 
ment in the papers for information in re- 
gard to Elisabeth’s relatives, had come 
across by chance in a paper received by a 
friend, the account of Billy’s capture of 
the automobile thief. The paper showed 


188 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Billy’s photograph, stated that he was 
owned by Miss Elisabeth Howard, and 
gave her address. Although this cousin 
had not seen Billy, she had received pho- 
tographs of him taken with Elisabeth. 
When she compared the pictures in her 
possession with the one in the paper she 
was convinced they portrayed the same 
dog. She could not understand, however, 
what Elisabeth and Billy were doing 
among strangers, and she could not imag- 
ine where Mr. and Mrs. Howard could 
be. Mrs. Howard had not been a very 
regular correspondent, but she had never 
let more than a month pass without a 
letter, and Mrs. Harlow had grown wor- 
ried that she had heard nothing now for 
four months. She wrote directly to Elisa- 
beth, whom she had not seen for years, 
asking an explanation. Elisabeth could 
not remember ever having seen Mrs. Har- 


GEORGE’S REVENGE 189 

low, but she knew that “Cousin Kate” had 
sent beautiful gifts at Christmas, and that 
she had been her mother’s best loved 
relative. 

As soon as Cousfn Kate learned the 
truth, she telegraphed that Elisabeth was 
to be sent to her at once in charge of some 
responsible person whose expenses she 
would gladly pay. Meantime, at least a 
dozen other persons were demanding that 
Elisabeth be delivered immediately to 
them. 

Until word should be received from 
Cousin Anne, Mrs. Thomson refused to 
surrender Elisabeth. Even when a pleas- 
ant gentleman from Chicago came at 
Cousin Kate’s request to take the little 
girl home with him, Mrs. Thomson re- 
mained firm. The Chicago gentleman 
wrote to Mrs. Harlow that she had no 
cause for worry, since Elisabeth was well 


190 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

and in a desirable home. Cousin Kate 
continued to worry nevertheless, and sent 
a great many nervous letters and telegrams. 

Now Constance had come to regard 
Elisabeth as her own private property, and 
she deeply resented the attempts to take 
her away. In a passion of anger she even 
tried to close the door in the face of an 
elderly lady who insisted that Elisabeth 
leave for Ohio with her that very hour. 

“ You are mine,” she told Elisabeth 
passionately. “I will not let you go.” 

Mrs. Thomson was amused at her own 
feeling. “Was it only a few weeks ago that 
I wished some relative would claim Elis- 
abeth?” she said to Mrs. Lewis. “The 
more who come, the greater my determina- 
tion to keep the child. I positively dread 
the answer from Miss Lee, for if she de- 
cides to take Elisabeth, we can do nothing.” 

The situation bore heavily upon Elisa- 


GEORGE’S REVENGE 191 

beth herself. She was grateful for the 
offer of so many homes but much preferred 
staying where she was. The only offer 
that appealed to her was Cousin Kate’s. 
Her letters were so full of love and long- 
ing that they gave Elisabeth a feeling of 
homesickness. Moreover, Billy was in- 
cluded in the invitation to come to Cali- 
fornia. 

“I wish Cousin Kate were my guardian 
instead of Cousin Anne,” she said to Mrs. 
Thomson and Constance. “When I was 
born, mother wanted to name me Kate, and 
father wanted to name me Anne. They 
couldn’t agree, so they named me for my 
mother. Cousin Kate was nice about it, 
and Cousin Anne wasn’t. They don’t 
like each other much, and I know Cousin 
Anne will not let me go to visit Cousin 
Kate when she comes home.” 

“So you think you had better go now, 


192 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

while you have the opportunity?” Mrs. 
Thomson asked. “If you really want to 
go, dear, I will make arrangements to 
send you, though I’d much rather 
keep you here until your cousin Anne 
returns.” 

“Elisabeth, you shall not leave me. I 
won’t have it,” Constance cried in alarm. 
“You promised father you would stay with 
me. You won’t go, will you? I’ll give 
you anything I have if you’ll stay.” 

“Let’s wait a while before we decide,” 
Mrs. Thomson said. “Surely we’ll hear 
from Miss Lee within the next few days.” 

The waiting was hard for Elisabeth. 
She was sometimes a bit irritable under 
the strain. Constance was almost pain- 
fully patient, so great was her fear of los- 
ing her. Elisabeth had only to express 
a wish to have it instantly gratified and her 
occasional outbursts of petulance were re- 


GEORGE’S REVENGE 193 

ceived by Constance with amazing meek- 
ness. 

Elisabeth was in no mood to tolerate 
George’s disagreeable tricks. In the past 
she had ignored them or endured them 
with such good nature that they had lost 
their zest for George and been discon- 
tinued. Now, he saw that her mood had 
changed. One day when the little girl 
was aquiver over a new letter from Cousin 
Kate and therefore unable to concentrate 
on her lessons, after she had missed several 
words in spelling, returned a wrong an- 
swer in geography, and been unable to work 
a problem in arithmetic, George tripped her 
as she marched down stairs for recess, caus- 
ing her to fall and bruise her knee. As 
he stood snickering at her discomfiture, 
he received a great surprise. Elisabeth 
struck him. 

She was . immediately surrounded by 


194 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

classmates protecting her from George. 
The teachers learned for the first time of 
his attacks and he was given so severe a rep- 
rimand that he relapsed into sullen silence 
with an expression on his red smarting 
face that boded no good to Elisabeth. She 
was so upset over the blow, which had been 
as great a surprise to her as to George, that 
she was allowed to go home. She found 
Mrs. Lewis with Mrs. Thomson and 
poured out her story to the two ladies. 
When she had been soothed and comforted, 
she was taken gently to task by Mrs. Lewis. 

“I am afraid you have undone in a mo- 
ment of rage the good you had accom- 
plished by weeks of self control. George 
was beginning to give up his enmity to- 
wards you. Soon you could have been 
friends, and George needs friends. I am 
sorry you struck him.” 

“I am sorry too,” Elisabeth said wearily, 


GEORGE'S REVENGE 195 

“and I know he’ll worry me more than 
ever. Don’t you think it is ever right to 
lose your temper and fight people, Aunt 
Jessie?” 

“I think one never gains anything by 
it.” 

“George and Cousin Anne are the only 
two people I ever wanted to fight.” 

“Try to think more kindly of them both. 
Remember they are ‘living creatures,’ 
little Band of Mercy girl.” 

“I will, if you won’t scold me any more,” 
Elisabeth promised. 

As far as George was concerned her 
promise came too late to save her suffer- 
ing. Deprived by the teachers of any fur- 
ther chance to annoy Elisabeth at school, 
he nursed his resentment and determined 
that one day he would obtain a real re- 
venge. 

The day came. 


196 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

One Saturday morning, Elisabeth re- 
moved Billy’s collar preparatory to wash- 
ing him and left him for a moment in the 
front yard. At the same time, the dog- 
catcher, seldom seen in that neighborhood, 
stopped at the corner to fill the radiator 
of his car. George grasped the opportun- 
ity. Using his own dog, Jack, as a decoy, 
he lured Billy to the corner and pointed 
him out to the officer. 

“Say, mister, take up that white dog. 
He’s awful vicious. See, he’s ready to 
spring on my dog.” 

The man obligingly threw his knotted 
rope over Billy’s unsuspecting head and 
rendered him powerless. 

“He’s only a mongrel though he has 
evidently been well cared for,” the man 
said. “He has no license, so in he goes.” 
He thrust poor Billy into the wire enclosed 
cage and drove rapidly away. 


GEORGE’S REVENGE 197 

The transaction had consumed less than 
five minutes. 

George looked about to assure himself 
that no one had seen. He well knew the 
execration such an act would bring forth 
in that district. He tried to exult as he 
walked back toward the Thomsons, but 
somehow he did not feel as pleased with 
himself as he had expected, and started 
guiltily as he felt Jack’s cold nose thrust 
into his hand. He would feel pretty lone- 
some if Jack should disappear. His Band 
of Mercy pledge which he had repeated 
with great gusto at the meetings came to 
his mind : I promise to be kind to all living 
creatures and to try to protect them from 
cruel usage. No one must know that he 
had broken the pledge; particularly not 
Mrs. Lewis who had been so kind to him, 
nor the detectives who would make him 
pay dearly for his revenge. 


198 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

He saw Elisabeth come skipping into 
the yard calling her dog, cheerily at first, 
then with a note of anxiety. She opened 
the gate, which George had carefully 
closed once Billy was outside, and ran to 
the corner, calling, whistling, questioning 
every one she met. George hid behind a 
tree lest she question him. He watched 
her turn back and hurry into the house, 
saw her emerge again with a look of fear. 
He heard Mrs. Thomson ask: 

“Hasn’t he ever gone off by himself?” 

And Elisabeth’s answer: “Yes. Some- 
times for an hour at a time, but never since 
I’ve been here.” 

He saw her run to the Lewises and de- 
spondently return. 

At intervals throughout the morning he 
met her wearily walking the streets, whist- 
ling, and calling. He heard her refuse to 
go into the house to eat, refuse to be com- 


GEORGE’S REVENGE 199 

forted. In the afternoon, he saw her al- 
most ill with grief, still walking the streets, 
still calling “Billy, Billy,” in a heart- 
broken tone. 

George was even at last. His revenge 
was complete. He grew tired but try as 
he would he could not keep away from her. 

The entire Band of Mercy had joined 
the search and no nook or corner in that 
section of the city was overlooked. Many 
theories were advanced to explain the mys- 
terious disappearance but Elisabeth re- 
jected them all. 

“He isn’t lost,” she said. “He is either 
shut up or injured so that he can’t walk. 
He would come to me if he could. I am 
afraid he is suffering and wondering why 
I don’t come for him, and I don’t know 
where to look. I don’t know what to do.” 
Tears streamed down her face. “I wish 
Uncle John were here.” 


200 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Constance and Emily were almost as dis- 
tressed as Elisabeth, and Mrs. Thomson 
was deeply concerned. She felt no relief 
that Billy had been taken off her hands at 
last though she had so many times ex- 
pressed a desire to be rid of him. The 
thought of his possible suffering made her 
wretched, and she felt a deep sympathy for 
his unhappy little mistress. After tele- 
phoning an advertisement to the news 
papers offering a reward for his return, 
she drove about in her car, accompanied 
by Mrs. Lewis, repeatedly sounding 
her horn which was well known to 
Billy. 

About half past three, the two ladies 
had come back from a last fruitless trip 
and were sitting in the car discussing with 
the three little girls what to do next. 
George sauntered up. Mrs. Lewis, never 
dreaming of the truth, was touched at his 


GEORGE’S REVENGE 201 

solicitude. She cast him a kindly glance 
as she said: 

“I believe George feels as badly as you 
do, Elisabeth.” 

Elisabeth flashed him a pitiful little 
smile of appreciation and he turned his 
head quickly away. He decided that 
Elisabeth had been punished sufficiently, 
and since no one else had suggested visit- 
ing the pounds, he did so himself. He felt 
it would be a relief to have the search done 
with and Billy safe at home. 

Elisabeth animated by a new hope 
thanked him gratefully as she accepted 
Mrs. Thomson’s invitation to enter the car. 
She asked Constance and Emily to stay at 
home and welcome Billy in case he should 
return before she did, and Constance con- 
sented at once though she had fully ex- 
pected to be of the searching party. 

“Better go to the Western Pound,” 


202 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

George said gruffly. “All the dogs are be- 
ing taken there lately. You had better 
hurry; it closes at half past four.” 

“Everybody is good to me to-day,’’ Elisa- 
beth said as the car started, “even George.” 

It was a long cold drive to the pound 
which was located in an inaccessible alley 
in the western part of the city. Elisabeth 
was in an agony of suspense by the time 
they arrived. 

They picked their way through the un- 
clean alley and entered an old stable, cold, 
ill-smelling, and desolate, just as the 
keeper was leaving. To their eager in- 
quiries, he replied that but a single dog in- 
habited the place that day. Elisabeth 
flew to the cage he opened. When instead 
of Billy she saw a yellow puppy, she felt 
weak and faint from disappointment. 

The puppy raised his tiny paws against 
the wire, crying like a baby to be taken up. 


GEORGE'S REVENGE 


203 


Automatically Elisabeth lifted him in her 
arms and held him close while tears rolled 
down her cheeks. The puppy cuddled 
against her in an ecstasy of joy. 

“We can’t leave a baby dog here alone 
in this awful place,” she said. “Please 
keep him to-night, Aunt Jessie. I’m most 
sure we can get him a home.” 

To the surprise of the others Mrs. Thom- 
son announced her willingness to receive 
the puppy into her house and paid the fee 
demanded by the pound-keeper. She 
hoped the little dog which had somehow 
aroused her sympathy would comfort 
Elisabeth in case Billy never were found. 

In answer to Mrs. Lewis’s inquiries, the 
keeper explained that the dog-catcher had 
brought in no dogs that day, because his 
wagon had broken down as he was answer- 
ing an emergency call in the country: that 
he had but one dog in the wagon at the 


204 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

time and it was too vicious to bring in on 
the street car so that he had been obliged 
to leave it tied in a farmer’s barn over Sun- 
day; that if the ladies thought the dog was 
theirs they might call again Monday after- 
noon. 

The ladies explained that they could not 
wait until Monday afternoon and resumed 
their questioning of the keeper though he 
showed an inclination to finish with them 
and go home. They could not discover 
where the farmer lived but secured the 
address of the dog-catcher as the pound- 
keeper ushered them firmly from the 
stable. 

Back in the coupe, Elisabeth pulled the 
robe close about the little dog. She was 
not thinking of him, however. Billy oc- 
cupied her mind to the exclusion of all else, 
and she begged Mrs. Thomson to hurry to 
the dog-catcher’s house. 


GEORGES REVENGE 205 

“You will be ill, child, if you don’t get 
some rest soon,” Mrs. Thomson said, with 
an anxious look at the little girl. “Don’t 
set your hopes too high, you may be dis- 
appointed again.” 

The dog-catcher proved to be a friendly 
young man who cheerfully left his supper 
to answer the questions so eagerly asked 
him. 

“Yes, the dog was white, with tan face 
and ears symetrically outlined in black. 
A fox terrier for the most part. Yes, he 
had a long tail with a black spot where it 
joined the body.” 

Undoubtedly the dog was Billy. Elisa- 
beth trembled with excitement. 

“Where did you leave him? Let’s go 
get him quick.” 

“The trouble is, he isn’t where I left 
him,” the man answered, a note of sympa- 
thy in his voice. “I just telephoned about 


206 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

him. He had such a wild look in his eyes 
that I was sure he was mad — ” 

“You’d be mad, too,” Elisabeth raged, 
“if some one should grab you up and carry 
you away from your home and tie you in 
a barn.” 

“I would that,” the dog-catcher agreed. 
“But I didn’t know he had a home since he 
wore no collar and license. He was about 
to attack a dog twice his size and seemed 
pretty fierce. He bit the farmer. Not 
much of a bite but since he broke the skin, 
I had to keep him for observation. 
Otherwise I’d shot him to save the trouble 
of going back for him. I am glad now 
that I saved him for you.” 

“What did you learn over the tele- 
phone?” Mrs. Thomson asked as she sup- 
ported Elisabeth with her arm. 

“The farmer said the dog had acted all 
day like something possessed. He was 


GEORGES REVENGE 207 

sure he was mad and was scared about his 
hand. About four o’clock he didn’t hear 
him howling and a little later went to the 
barn to see what had quieted him. The 
dog wasn’t there. He had gnawed through 
the heavy rope and run off. Mr. Brown 
looked everywhere for him. He is 
worried about his bite. I am glad you 
think the dog didn’t have rabies.” 

“We know he didn’t. Where is this 
farm?” 

“Several miles beyond the park. You 
couldn’t make it in your coupe. The road 
is awful. Besides, the dog has been gone 
over an hour now and there is no telling 
where he is.” 

“Aunt Jessie, could he find his way so 
far?” 

“I am sure of it.” 

“Won’t you drive out and meet him, 
Aunt Harriet?” 


208 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Dear, we couldn’t see him in the dark- 
ness even if we knew the roads he would 
choose. Let’s go home and wait for him. 
He will surely come.” 

Elisabeth followed Mrs. Thomson 
slowly to the car which she longed to turn 
in the direction of the park. She felt 
sure her eyes could spy Billy in the dark- 
ness if they were allowed the chance. 

“I have to go home without Billy,” she 
thought miserably, “but if I were lost, he 
would never go home without me.” 


CHAPTER XI 


billy's return 

E LISABETH and the puppy were 
received with the greatest tender- 
ness by Constance and Emily. 
After hearing the story of the afternoon 
Emily was for leaving the house at once to 
find and succor Billy. Constance re- 
strained her by a sensible statement of the 
facts, and reiterated her belief that Billy 
would find his way home before morning. 

“Now, let me tell you about Betsy,” she 
went on. “She ran out on the street in 
front of two automobiles coming in op- 
posite directions. George happened to be 
near. He clutched her just in time and 
barely escaped being run over himself. 
The driver scolded him and Betsy 


209 


210 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

scratched him, but he held her tight and 
brought her to me. If it hadn’t been for 
George, you would have lost Betsy as well 
as Billy.” 

Elisabeth’s face lightened wonderfully 
as she turned to repeat to Mrs. Lewis what 
she had just heard. 

“I am sorry now, Aunt Jessie, that I 
hurt George. I shall try to do something 
for him to make up.” 

Aunt Jessie smiled approvingly. “How 
much better to get even with benefits than 
with injuries! Goodby, telephone us the 
minute Billy comes.” 

Preparatory to removing her wraps, 
Elisabeth placed the puppy on the floor. 
Mrs. Thomson saw him for the first time in 
the light and was horrified at his condi- 
tion. 

“He is filthy. Don’t touch him, Con- 
stance. Call Jennie to wash him. Elisa- 


BILLY'S RETURN 211 

beth, hang your coat on the porch, and go 
take a bath at once.” 

Jennie refused to touch the puppy. 
Mrs. Thomson wouldn’t allow the little 
girls to wash him. Joe was off duty. 

“I suppose I shall have to wash him my- 
self,” Mrs. Thomson declared. “I won’t 
have anything so dirty in my house, and I 
suppose he’d freeze out doors on such a 
cold night. I wish I hadn’t been so weak- 
minded as to bring him home.” 

“Mother, you wouldn’t really wash him, 
would you?” Constance asked. 

Mrs. Thomson looked down at the miser- 
able little object at her feet and replied 
with asperity: “I never thought I’d descend 
to bathing a dog, but I dare say I’ll live 
through the experience. Wrap him up 
in a newspaper, Elisabeth, and carry him to 
the laundry. Constance, fill the tub while 
I change my clothes.” 


212 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Please let me wash him,” Elisabeth 
pleaded almost in tears over Mrs. Thom- 
son’s martyred expression. 

“No, you are much too tired. But 
speaking of ‘getting even’ with people, I 
want you to understand that Billy’s rescue 
of my house and car, and your many ser- 
vices are as nothing in comparison to the 
sacrifice I am now prepared to make.” 

“You wouldn’t know how to get him 
clean,” Elisabeth objected. “He has prob- 
ably never had a bath in his life. He 
won’t know how to take it, you won’t know 
how to give it, and you’ll both have a 
wretched time.” 

“There is truth in what you say,” Mrs. 
Thomson admitted. “I remember Betsy’s 
first bath and pause to consider.” 

Kind old Mandy came to the rescue. 
She had arranged for Jennie to finish the 
preparation of dinner while she washed 


BILLY'S RETURN 213 

the puppy. Mrs. Thomson expressed fer- 
vent gratitude, while Elisabeth rewarded 
the old woman with a hug of deep affection. 
Mandy marched off with the puppy, pay- 
ing scant heed to Elisabeth’s warnings not 
to get soapy water in his ears lest he be 
made deaf, nor disinfectant in his eyes. 

“You ten’ to yore bath. Me an’ 
puppy’ll ten’ to his’n. He’ll holler but 
doan you bother, dis heah bath ain’t gwine 
to hurt him none.” 

It didn’t, though his wails mounted from 
basement to attic. When finished, he 
seemed another dog. His golden hair 
fluffed and glistened. The ruff beneath his 
neck was white as snow. His tail was a 
beautiful plume. He himself was a most 
attractive little creature with big bright 
eyes and a tiny button of a nose. 

“His .name is Bobby,” Elisabeth said as 
she received him from Mandy. “He is a 


214 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

darling, isn’t he? See how he holds one 
ear up and one ear down.” 

He felt fine. He raced about the 
house until he was breathless. He dis- 
covered Betsy and made wild dashes to- 
ward her, retreating under a chair when she 
stood her ground. Every few moments he 
stopped to rest on Elisabeth’s lap, thanking 
her with wet caresses for bringing him to 
such a lovely warm place. After eating 
his own supper of bread and milk he 
strolled across the room to help Betsy 
finish hers. Betsy put him to flight. The 
two chased each other madly from room to 
room. 

Elisabeth couldn’t help laughing at their 
antics. Nevertheless, not for a moment 
could she forget Billy. Every little 
while she went to the door and called 
him. At bedtime the Lewises heard 
her. 


BILLY'S RETURN 215 

“Oh, dear,” Emily sighed. “Billy 
hasn’t come yet” 

“Do you know, mother,” Norman said, 
“I believe ‘George had something to do 
with Billy’s disappearance. He has been 
queer all day, and I saw him prowling 
around just a minute ago though it’s cold 
as Greenland out. I’ll make him ’fess up 
in the morning and if ’he is responsible I’ll 
trounce him within an inch of his life.” 

“Indeed you won’t,” Mrs. Lewis pro- 
hibited. “Did you know he- saved Betsy 
this afternoon .at the risk of injuring him- 
self? He is worried about Billy and sorry 
for Elisabeth just as we are.” 

“Then he has changed mighty suddenly. 
Anyway I shall investigate him.” 

Elisabeth undressed so slowly that Mrs. 
Thomson lost patience and ordered her to 
bed at once. She had propped open the 
front gate for Billy, prepared his supper, 


216 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

and poured fresh water in his drinking pan. 
Since the cold weather he had been sleep- 
ing on the couch in the hall, which was 
always warm, instead of in Elisabeth’s room 
where the windows w/ere left open. To- 
night, however, with Mrs. Thomson’s per- 
mission, she had placed his chair beside her 
bed and had ready a blanket to wrap him 
in. Bobby was so tired that he settled 
down contentedly on the couch in the hall 
where a light was left burning against 
Billy’s return. 

Mrs. Thomson sat up very late and even 
after she retired, she listened as intently 
for Billy’s bark as did Elisabeth tossing 
restlessly on her bed. The little girl dozed 
from time to time, always waking with 
a start and sitting bolt upright to listen. 
Deep in her heart she knew Billy would 
return, that nothing could keep him from 
her. 


BILLY’S RETURN 217 

And indeed nothing could. Impeded 
by the heavy rope about his neck, holding 
up the paw that had been hit by a passing 
car, pausing now and again to lick the 
wound on his back inflicted by the irate 
farmer, Billy was struggling toward home. 
Faint from pain, rage, lack of food, he was 
drawn steadily on by the vision of a little 
girl with loving, anxious eyes. He came 
along country roads never travelled by him 
before into a part of the city wholly un- 
familiar. Here and there he made a de- 
tour to avoid a pedestrian or another dog, 
knowing that he had no strength to waste 
in argument or battle, but he never lost his 
sense of the right direction. 

When he came to well known streets he 
made an effort to increase his speed. For 
a little while he trotted, slowly relapsing 
into a walk as the pain in his paw became 
intolerable. At last he barely crawled 


218 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

and breathed with difficulty but he had no 
thought of giving up. 

Almost home! He made a final effort, 
pulled himself through the gate and up to 
the verandah steps. He managed one 
faint bark and dropped exhausted on the 
threshold. 

Elisabeth heard him. Awakened by 
her glad cry, Mrs. Thomson and Constance 
followed her down the steps. They saw 
her gather Billy close in her arms, heard 
his whimpers of greeting. Without stop- 
ping to consider whether or not he was 
dirty, Mrs. Thomson helped carry him up- 
stairs and examined his injuries. He al- 
lowed Elisabeth to bathe his wounds with 
warm water and alcohol accepting her 
word that the additional pain was neces- 
sary and trying to lick away the tears that 
fell from her eyes as she felt him shrink 
and quiver under her treatment. He drank 


BILLY'S RETURN 219 

water feverishly and ate the food she gave 
him from her hands. He was placed 
gently in his bed drawn tight against Elisa- 
beth’s and cuddled down with his head 
resting against her arm. 

Seeing that he still quivered with pain, 
Mrs. Thomson decided to administer med- 
icine. “He is so much like a person,” she 
said, “that I believe one of these tablets 
will give him relief if we can get him to 
take it.” 

Elisabeth opened his mouth and put the 
tablet so far back on his tongue that he was 
obliged to swallow it. Soon his quiver- 
ing ceased and he and the household fell 
fast asleep. 

Next morning a veterinarian was sum- 
moned. After a careful examination to 
which Billy submitted intelligently, the 
doctor assured Elisabeth she had no cause 
for alarm. He left medicines and direc- 


220 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

tions and promised that a few days of care- 
ful nursing would restore Billy to his usual 
health and spirits. 

The dog could not bear Elisabeth out of 
his sight, but was very patient when she 
was with him which was pretty much all 
the time. For a day or two he could not 
comfortably walk up and down the steps. 
The first morning, after Elisabeth and Con- 
stance had carried him down, they looked 
up to see Bobby waiting at the top for his 
turn. 

“You little rascal!” Elisabeth laughed. 
“Come on down on your own four feet.” 

Bobby remained stationary except for 
his tail. If Billy were carried down, he 
must be also. He was so cunning in his 
resistance that a harder heart than Elisa- 
beth’s would have given in to him. She 
brought him down in her arms and depos- 
ited him beside Billy who licked him affec- 


BILLY'S RETURN 221 

tionately, showing no jealousy because he 
was only a puppy. Betsy hurried to give 
Billy a loving greeting, rubbing against 
him with arched back and stretching up 
her face to meet his. When Bobby thrust 
his head in between, he received such a 
slap from Betsy that he ran crying to Elisa- 
beth. He bore no malice, however, and 
soon engaged Betsy in an exciting game of 
tag while Billy looked on approvingly. 

George came with the others to congrat- 
ulate Elisabeth upon Billy’s return. She 
greeted him warmly, thanking him again 
and again for the rescue of Betsy. She 
wondered why he turned so red and an^ 
swered her so abruptly. Norman’s suspi- 
cions were increased by George’s manner. 
He took the culprit home and forced a con- 
fession from him. 

Norman insisted that an immediate apol- 
ogy be tendered Elisabeth. George re- 


222 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

fused. Norman threatened expulsion from 
the Band. George threatened an appeal to 
Mrs. Lewis and was forthwith dragged into 
her presence. Having heard the story, she 
expressed her indignation and disappoint- 
ment in no uncertain terms. 

“I don’t know what you should do,” she 
concluded. “Elisabeth feels kindly to- 
ward you now because of Betsy, and is will- 
ing to be friends. If you confess the 
truth, I am afraid she could not forgive 
you.” 

“No friendship is worth anything that is 
not based on truth,” Mrs. Thomson said. 

“Of course you are right,” Mrs. Lewis 
admitted. “Go tell your story, George, 
and make your apology, but don’t expect 
immediate forgiveness.” 

George submitted sullenly. Escorted by 
Norman, who was determined to see the 
affair through, he betook himself slowly to 


BILLY’S RETURN 223 

the Thomson’s house, where he was received 
affably by the two little girls. 

He stammered out his wretched story, 
watching the cordiality fade from Elisa- 
beth’s face as she realized that George was 
responsible for Billy’s injuries and for all 
the distress of the preceding day. She 
sprang toward him with fists clenched in 
rage. George crouched like a mistreated 
dog. Elisabeth stopped short. She could 
no more have struck him than she could 
have struck a dog. A wave of pity swept 
over her as she recalled Aunt Jessie’s de- 
scription of his past life. She remembered 
that he had saved Betsy. He was sorry, 
he had done what he could to atone. 

“I didn’t know any one could be so hate- 
ful,” she said slowly, “and if Billy hadn’t 
come back, I could never forgive you. 
I’ll try to be friends because you saved 
little Betsy, but’ll have to try pretty 


224 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

hard. I hope you are through now. 
Anyway you had better leave my dog 
alone.” 

Very much embarrassed, George inti- 
mated an intention to reform. After an 
awkward silence Elisabeth said: 

“Billy is asleep now and so is Bobby. 
Constance and I were going to have a game 
of parchesi. Would you and Norman like 
to play?” 

When Mrs. Lewis stopped by, a few 
minutes later, prepared to gather up the 
fragments of George, she was astonished to 
see him seated happily at the table with the 
other three, and close beside the sleeping 
dogs. 

That evening she had a long talk with 
the little girls. They reached a most im- 
portant decision. Elisabeth expressed it 
for the rest. 

“If some one does you an injury, try to 


BILLY’S RETURN 225 

forget it; if some one does you a kindness, 
try to get even.” 

“Elisabeth,” Mrs. Lewis asked soberly, 
“can’t you think of some act of kindness 
performed by your Cousin Anne toward 
you?” 

“No,” Elisabeth said positively, “not 
one.” 


CHAPTER XII 


LETTERS FOR ELISABETH 
T last, after weeks of anxious 



waiting, word came from Cousin 
Anne in the form of a cablegram 


to Mrs. Thomson. It was disappointingly 
brief: “Letters just read deep gratitude am 
writing.” 

“We don’t know any more than we did 
before,” Constance said disconsolately. 

“Well any way she evidently isn’t com- 
ing straight home to get me,” Elisabeth re- 
joiced. 

Mr. Thomson wrote often. His letters 
were usually addressed to Mrs. Thomson 
with messages to the others. Occasionally 
one came with Constance’s or Elisabeth’s 
name on the envelope. Elisabeth spent 


226 


LETTERS FOR ELISABETH 227 


several days writing an answer to the first 
that she received. 

' 'Dear Uncle John : 

“Thank you for the letter that was all 
mine. I loved it and so did Billy. I 
lead it to him over and over and every 
time he listened and wagged his tail. He 
misses you very much. He did something 
so clever I am afraid you won’t believe it. 
Five or six letters came with yours. Billy 
smelled them all and then brought me 
yours. He did, truly. Aunt Harriet 
made him try it again, and still he brought 
yours. When Billy was lost, I missed you 
especially, terribly. Billy is well again 
except his paw hurts when it rains. I wish 
you could see Bobby. Aunt Harriet had 
his picture taken with Billy and Betsy and 
we will send you one. I wish Aunt Har- 
riet and Constance would like Billy as 
much as they like Bobby. Of course 
Bobby is the cunningest puppy in the world 
but he hasn’t anything like as much sense 
as Billy, and he can’t love as hard. I have 
taught him to sit up on his hind legs. He 
learned in just a few days and now he sits 
up and begs for everything he wants and he 
looks so cunning that he gets it. Yesterday, 
Billy was on the window seat. Bobby 
tried to make him jump down to play, but 


228 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 


Billy was tired and wouldn’t. At last 
Bobby sat up for him, and we laughed, 
for Billy couldn’t resist him any more than 
the rest of us and jumped down to play. 
Bobby and Betsy romp all over the place. 
But they both love Billy best because he 
has the sweetest nature of any dog in the 
world. Bobby loves to be carried about. 
One day after his bath, Aunt Harriet held 
him in her lap. I was so surprised. 
Bobby knows already what ‘want to go 
walking?’ means. When anybody asks him 
that he rushes to find Billy and catches him 
by the neck to make him run. Then he 
comes back and waltzes around and around 
until he gets dizzy. He is cute. He copies 
everything that Billy does, so he is learning 
good manners. I will write some more to- 
morrow. 

“This is to-morrow. George is so nice to 
me now that you wouldn’t know him. Aunt 
Jessie’s plan did work. He is kind to all 
living creatures, except a few boys. Yester- 
day when the grocery boy threw a stone at 
a kitten, I didn’t get angry at all, I mean 
on the outside of me. I talked to him so 
politely that he became interested in the 
Band of Mercy and promised he would join 
if Aunt Jessie would let him. He learned 
the pledge then and there. Aunt Jessie was 
much pleased with me. I suppose I ought 


LETTERS FOR ELISABETH 229 


to tell you that when I saw old Mr. Brown 
take some baby cats away from their mother 
and put them out in the alley in the cold, 
because he didn’t want them any more, that 
I was dreadfully impertinent to him and we 
had an awful time. He came to see Aunt 
Harriet and complained of me, and she 
didn’t know what to say because she knew 
he had no business putting those baby cats 
in the alley to starve, but she said she did 
not want trouble with the neighbors and I 
had no right to be rude. Aunt J essie said so 
too, and I promised to let her attend to such 
things hereafter. She did attend to the 
kittens when I took them to her, but I had 
already telephoned the Humane Society and 
they made Mr. Brown pay a fine for put- 
ting the kittens in the alley, and he said I 
was some kind of a nuisance, and he won’t 
speak to any of us. Aunt Jessie said I 
should make friends with him as I did with 
George but I don’t know how. Do you 
mind very much that Mr. Brown won’t 
speak to us? I will write some more to- 
morrow. 

“This is to-morrow. Do you remember 
Gertrude Harris? She came to a meeting 
of the Band to-day carrying a young chicken 
dressed in a red sweater. It looked so 
funny we couldn’t help laughing though 
Gertrude was almost crying. She has been 


230 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 


laising chickens out of eggs, and this one 
came without feathers except a few on each 
wing. Gertrude loved him just the same 
and was afraid he would take cold this 
chilly weather. She knitted him a nice 
warm sweater and put it on him. He strut- 
ted out to show himself to the other chickens 
but they were so scared of him dressed up 
that way that they made an awful noise 
and ran from him. Then he was scared 
and ran so fast that Gertrude had a time 
catching him. She brought him to the 
Band for advice. Aunt Jessie couldn’t 
think what to do. Norman got a piece 
of his old khaki colored sweater and Aunt 
Jessie sewed it on the chicken instead of 
the red sweater. We went to Gertrude’s 
back yard to see how the other chickens 
would take it and we were relieved when 
they did not make a fuss. From a distance 
the dressed up chicken looks like the rest. 
Norman is a clever boy and I like him. 
Constance and I are doing well at school, 
though my last month’s report was the 
worst I ever had in my life. Constance and 
Emily and I are together all the time and 
we have good times. I am glad you are 
well and happy. You said you had found 
out where Cousin Anne is. I hope she 
will stay there. If you see her, please beg 
her to let you keep me, for Aunt Harriet 


LETTERS FOR ELISABETH 231 


doesn’t mind having me now even with my 
animals. She says she never thought she 
would live in the house with three. She 
likes me much better than she did, even if 
she was cross with me about Mr. Brown, 
and is always doing so many lovely kind- 
nesses for me that I just can’t keep even 
with her. I send my love to you. Please 
come home soon. 

“From your extra little girl, 
“Elisabeth.” 

A few days later came the expected 
letter from Cousin Anne. Two letters in 
fact, one for Mrs. Thomson, one for 
Elisabeth. Mrs. Thomson read hers 
aloud. Miss Lee explained her silence by 
telling of her long and serious illness dur- 
ing which she had been unable to receive 
mail. She expressed her gratitude to the 
Thomsons for their care of Elisabeth. 
She hoped to see Mr. Thomson in the near 
future. The letter continued: 

“I am glad you have found Elisabeth 
satisfactory as a companion for your daugh- 
ter. I shall of course repay you for her 


232 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 


expenses and you can understand that I 
cannot leave her to be a further burden 
to you. I have written my friend Miss 
Spence who has a private school to take 
charge of Elisabeth at once. I have also 
written to my banker, Mr. Lipton, to make 
the necessary provision for her support. 
I shall come home as soon as the physic- 
ians will allow me to travel. Meantime I 
feel sure that the discipline of boarding 
school will be excellent for her. I am 
looking forward to meeting you that I may 
thank you in person for your great kind- 
ness to my little relative, 

“Cordially yours, 
“Anne Lee.” 

When Mrs. Thomson finished, there was 
a moment of blank silence. Constance re- 
covered first. With flashing eyes and burn- 
ing cheeks she hurled defiance at this 
stranger across the sea. Mrs. Thomson was 
almost as excited and quite as rebellious. 

“I told you how it would be,” Elisabeth 
said quietly. “I shall go to Cousin Kate 
with my dogs and my cat. Will you tele- 
graph her, Aunt Harriet?” 


LETTERS FOR ELISABETH 233 

“No, dear, I’ll send a cablegram to Miss 
Lee, explaining that instead of being a bur- 
den you are a help and comfort, and asking 
her to let you stay.” 

“I hope father will see her soon,” Con- 
stance said. “Any way Miss Spence can’t 
have Elisabeth, can she?” 

“Not until we hear further from 
Miss Lee,” Mrs. Thomson answered. 
“But you haven’t read you letter, Elisa- 
beth.” 

“You read it to me,” Elisabeth begged, 
handing the unopened envelope to Mrs. 
Thomson. 

“No, dear. Read it yourself, first, and 
then if you wish, Constance and I will read 
it too.” . 

Elisabeth went off to her room but soon 
returned to offer the letter again to 
Mrs. Thomson. “Please read it,” she 
said. 


234 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 


“My Dear Elisabeth , 

I did not know until to-day that you were 
alive. I thought there was no one left in 
the world who belonged to me. Some two 
months ago I became so worried at receiv- • 
ing no letters from your father that I wrote 
to friends in America asking for inform- 
ation and giving the last address I had. 
My friends finally heard of the accident 
and cabled me. I was already ill and the 
shocking news was almost too much for 
me. For weeks I have been allowed no 
visitors, papers, or mail. I can’t under- 
stand why I was not cabled immediately. 
Surely when you told people that you were 
related to me, there must have been some 
one to find my address. I can’t understand 
your remaining in a Children’s Home 
over night. Mr. Lipton was out of the 
city and no one else would connect your 
name with mine, but surely as soon as you 
told who you were people must have of- 
fered you the hospitality of their homes. 
Write and explain the mystery at once. 

I shall never recover from the ignominv 
of your having been a burden to others, and 
the thought of your living on charity is in- 
supportable. I am thankful you were 
taken in charge by well-bred people and 
have written to express my appreciation to 
Mrs. Thomson. I hope you have con- 


LETTERS FOR ELISABETH 235 


ducted yourself like a lady and have re- 
paid their care of you with the utmost cour- 
tesy, but when I think of the way you were 
brought up I feel troubled. I have written 
my friend, Miss Spence, to receive you as 
a boarding pupil, if possible, in her school. 
If she has no room for you, I have asked 
her to secure a proper governess and ar- 
range with Mr. Lipton to open the old 
house where your grandfather lived when 
he was a little boy, and where your father 
lived for a year with me and my father 
before we came abroad. The house con- 
tains everything needful but it has been un- 
occupied so long that it will require a 
thorough overhauling. Miss Spence will 
make arrangements for you and the govern- 
ess to board somewhere in the meantime, 
unless as I hope, she can take you in herself. 
I shall come home as soon as I possiblv can 
and arrange for your future. I shall not 
write you of my grief at the loss of your 
father. You are too young to understand. 
I hope only that you will be worthy of the 
name you bear. You will write to me at 
once using the above address. 

“Your affectionate cousin, 

“Anne Lee.” 

“Affectionate nothing!” Constance ex- 
claimed. “Mother, what shall we do?” 


236 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Stop worrying. I happen to know that 
Miss Spence’s school is full. I know also 
that suitable governesses do not grow on 
bushes and that to open up a long-unused 
house would require time. Elisabeth will 
remain here for many a day.” 

That same evening Miss Spence tele- 
phoned making an appointment to call the 
following afternoon. 

She came promptly at the hour desig- 
nated. Mrs. Thomson and Elisabeth were 
the only ones for whom she asked, but Con- 
stance, Billy, Bobby, and Betsy assisted at 
the interview. Miss Spence was tall, hand- 
some, and very dignified. She greeted her 
hostess and the children graciously but when 
the animals drew near to make acquaint- 
ance, she drew back her skirts with a ges- 
ture of distaste. They retreated at once to 
Elisabeth’s side, Billy growling a little to 
express his dislike. 


LETTERS FOR ELISABETH 237 

“You are evidently fond of animals,” 
said Miss Spence to Elisabeth. 

“Yes, Miss Spence, I am.” 

“That is something I cannot understand, 
allowing animals in the house, I mean.” 
Constance was about to make a heated re- 
ply but Miss Spence dismissed the subject. 

She was polite. She thanked Mrs. 
Thomson for her great kindness to Elisa- 
beth quite as if Elisabeth belonged to her. 
Mrs. Thomson grew unaccountably angry. 
Miss Spence regretted intensely that she 
had no possible room for Elisabeth at pres- 
ent. Elisabeth and Constance almost 
wept with relief. She would do her best 
to find a governess, but would dear Mrs. 
Thomson be willing to keep Elisabeth for 
a short time longer? Miss Lee was natur- 
ally so very particular as to the qualifica- 
tions of the governess that she could not 
choose one hurriedly. 


238 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Mrs. Thomson expressed her willingness 
to keep Elisabeth indefinitely. Miss 
Spence was most appreciative of such kind- 
ness and congratulated Elisabeth upon her 
good fortune in finding such friends. She 
asked the little girl many questions and 
was greatly surprised to learn that she and 
Constance were attending a public school. 
She hoped that she might have them both 
for pupils in the near future. She appar- 
ently did not notice that no one echoed her 
wish. 

Betsy, attracted by the beads on Miss 
Spence’s skirt, made a sudden dash toward 
her. Miss Spence turned quite pale and 
gave the little creature a rather vicious 
kick with a foot by no means small. It 
was the first blow Betsy had ever received 
and she cried pitifully. Billy sprang for- 
ward to protect her but was restrained by 
Elisabeth. 


LETTERS FOR ELISABETH 239 

“I never could endure a cat,” Miss 
Spence explained. 

“I am sorry you did not say so before,” 
Elisabeth said quietly though her eyes 
blazed with anger. She soothed Betsy 
tenderly as she carried her from the room, 
closely followed by the dogs. She left the 
three animals with Mandy and returned 
most reluctantly to the drawing room. 
Miss Spence rose to go. 

“If at any time you find Elisabeth’s pres- 
ence an inconvenience, let me know and I 
will make other arrangements for her. 
Miss Lee would repudiate my friendship 
if I allowed her cousin to impose on you.” 

“Elisabeth is the greatest help and com- 
fort both to Constance and myself.” 

“I am afraid her pets — ” Miss Spence 
suggested. 

“Billy, the larger dog, saved my electric 
from being stolen and my house from being 


240 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

broken into. Bobby and Betsy provide us 
with much entertainment. I am grateful 
to them all.” 

Tears came into Elisabeth’s eyes as she 
pressed close to Mrs. Thomson. 

“You must come to see me often, Elisa- 
beth,” Miss Spence ordered at parting. 
“Your cousin is depending on me for full 
reports. But,” she added with a playful 
smile, “leave your pets behind you.” 

Every one breathed more freely when 
the visitor had departed*. 

“She is so much like Cousin Anne,” 
Elisabeth affirmed, “that you could hardly 
tell them apart. Do you wonder I feel as 
I do?” 

“No, I don’t,” Constance declared. 
“She is the most unpleasantest woman I 
ever met. Poor little Betsy Cat!” 

“That’s all very well but a drawing 
room is no place for animals,” Mrs. Thom- 


LETTERS FOR ELISABETH 241 

son said severely. “Miss Spence had a 
right to feel annoyed. Next time we have 
a guest, Elisabeth, put every animal in the 
yard. You and Constance seem to forget 
that animals are not attractive to every 
one.” 

Elisabeth promised to comply. “My 
animals are too precious to be risked with 
people like Miss Spence,” she said. 


CHAPTER XIII 


“THE DEAR WAS” 

S CHOOL was closed for almost two 
weeks on account of an insufficient 
supply of coal. Most of the boys 
and girls were at a loss how to fill the 
empty days. Not so Elisabeth, Constance, 
and Emily. The three had long since be- 
come inseparable and were never dull 
when together. Constance entertained 
them with stories which they dramatized. 
Elisabeth fostered their interest in animals 
and rescue work. Emily planned adven- 
tures which were not the less exciting that 
they usually ended in disaster. 

The three addressed one another as 
“Dearwa.” At first there was no secret 
connected with the name which was used 
simply to express affection as they readily 


242 


“THE DEARWAS” 243 

explained. When, however, the detect- 
ives, Norman, Dick, and Ralph, for lack 
of anything else to detect, accused the Dear- 
was of having a secret society, and vowed 
to discover its purpose, the girls swore one 
another to secrecy and announced their de- 
termination to keep their mysteries invio- 
late. 

The fact that in reality they possessed no 
mystery did not prevent their devising an 
intricate system of signals to protect them 
from discovery. They went through 
strange contortions of face and body when 
they met. They had signs and counter- 
signs. Their meetings were held in various 
inaccessible places, but usually in the attic 
behind an enormous old trunk. They 
played that Cousin Anne, who had assumed 
the character of an ogress, was endeavor- 
ing to capture Elizabeth through her 
agents, the detectives. 


244 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

The detectives shadowed them with pa- 
tience and stealth. They tracked them to 
their hiding-places. From the roof they 
spied upon them performing mystic rites 
behind the trunk. Yet with all their try- 
ing they could never take them by surprise. 
Bobby and Billy, acting as sentinels, gave 
the alarm no matter how noiselessly the 
boys approached. The dogs loved the 
game. They sat in the charmed circle, 
quivering with eagerness, while the dark 
conferences were being held. They helped 
to seek for hidden treasure in the back 
yard, making the dirt fly with their will- 
ing paws. Billy with an air of grave 
importance carried messages from Dear- 
wa to Dearwa, successfully eluding pur- 
suit. 

The game bewildered Mrs. Thomson. 
She openly expressed her disapproval, 
claiming that it made her nervous to see 


“THE DEARWAS” 245 

shadowy figures gliding about the house all 
hours of the day, and that she disliked to 
find a band of conspirators ready to spring 
every time she opened the door of a 
closet. 

“Why don’t you conspire and detect in 
Emily’s house occasionally?” she de- 
manded. 

“Because our house is so big and full 
of such splendid hiding places,” Constance 
answered. “Please let us be, mother, I 
never had so much fun in my life before.” 

Mrs Thomson received no sympathy 
from Mrs. Lewis, who was delighted 
that the young people had found so inno- 
cent and safe a pastime. 

“I nearly lost my mind over them last 
week,” she said, “when Emily had ideas 
more brilliant than usual. They kid- 
napped two neglected colored babies in the 
alley, bathed them, and dressed them in 


246 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

borrowed clothes. The little things nearly 
had pneumonia from their unaccustomed 
ablutions, and the mother threatened us all 
with arrest. The Children’s Protective 
Association took them in charge and they 
are getting on nicely now. 

“I told you how angry Mr. Perkins and 
Mrs. Renolds were the night they were 
almost decapitated by the rope which the 
Dearwas had left fastened between your 
yard and mine. It was rather an ingenious 
arrangement on big spools and provided 
the children with amusement all day as 
they sent letters and packages across, but 
they had no right to leave the rope in 
place at night. Even that wasn’t as bad 
as stretching the wire between two trees 
and attempting to walk it. Why they 
didn’t break their necks I’ll never know. 
This new game is a vast improvement, 
and I shall be content if I can induce the 


“THE DEARWAS” 247 

rest to allow George to play. He will 
surely get into trouble if left to himself.” 

“Another!” Mrs. Thomson exclaimed 
despairingly, “when the house is already 
overflowing.” 

George was allowed to become a de- 
tective at Mrs. Lewis’s insistence, and 
Mrs. Thomson allowed the game to pro- 
ceed hoping the boys and girls would soon 
grow tired of it. Insensibly she and the 
servants became affected by the atmosphere 
of mystery and found themselves respond- 
ing to signals with motions the meaning 
of which neither they nor any one else 
understood. 

Mandy made a wonderful conspirator 
and suggested marvelous rites and hoodoos. 
Whenever the dogs announced the coming 
of the detectives she let forth a 9udden yell 
which had the desired effect of startling 
out of their wits Dearwas and Detectives 


248 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

alike, to say nothing of passers-by. No 
one could yell like Mandy. No one could 
listen to her unmoved. The kitchen came 
to be preferred to the attic as a rendezvous, 
and poor Mrs. Thomson was much mor- 
tified by offers of assistance from strangers 
who happened to pass the house just as 
Mandy performed her part. 

Many applications were received for 
admission to the two societies. Elisabeth 
and Emily would have acted favorably 
upon all but Constance refused. She 
rather enjoyed excluding the children who 
had formerly, though for good cause, ex- 
cluded her. Moreover she was so happy 
that she wanted no change. She refused 
to consider even Esther who was earnestly 
desired by Emily and who was tearfully 
anxious to become a Dearwa. Her admit- 
tance was advocated by Elisabeth as a 
means of “getting even” for many past 


“THE DEARWAS” 249 

favors. When Constance steadfastly re- 
fused consent, Emily lost her temper. 
Constance also lost hers. 

“We will have her, so there! Two 
against one decides it.” 

“We will not. I have a right to choose 
who is to play at my house.” 

“I made up the game, so I have a right 
to choose who is to play it with me. 
Come on, Elisabeth, we’ll let Esther join 
and if Constance doesn’t want to be a 
Dearwa any longer, she needn’t.” 

“She has to be,” Elisabeth answered 
mildly. “You know we decided, ‘once a 
Dearwa always a Dearwa, forever and 
ever, Amen.’ I feel sorry for Esther be- 
cause she is lonely without you and I think 
it would be kindness to a living creature 
to have her and I think we should get even 
with her that way, but we can’t if Dearwa 
C. won’t consent.” 


250 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Of course we couldn’t tell her about 
Cousin Anne, any way,” Emily conceded, 
“but her feelings will be hurt.” 

“Tell her that if ever we decide to ex- 
tend our membership, she will be the first 
person invited,” Constance said, her gra- 
ciousness restored. 

When Esther was informed of Con- 
stance’s •decision, she was not discouraged, 
but looked about for a way to make her- 
self desirable. Since secrets were in order, 
she would find a secret of her own. She 
did. In a few days she was able to 
promise a revelation of surpassing inter- 
est if allowed to become a Dearwa. Con- 
stance could not hold out against such an 
offer, for the Dearwas were feeling the 
need of a real mystery to keep up the in- 
terest of the detectives. Consequently 
Esther had her way. 

She was considerably disappointed when 


“THE DEARWAS” 251 

she learned that the Dearwas had manu- 
factured a mystery of pretense and that 
their signals and facial contortions and 
Mandy’s yell had no real meaning. She 
was slightly consoled when she was re- 
quired to raise her right hand and promise 
to be faithful to the Dearwa Band, for- 
ever and ever, Amen. 

“Now, tell us your mystery,” the others 
clamored, gathering close about her in 
pleasant anticipation and warning the dogs 
to be on guard. 

In a low tone Esther began: “You know 
the vacant house next door to me?” The 
question was purely rhetorical; of course 
they knew it. 

“I found Betsy there,” Elisabeth re- 
minded her. 

“You know it is different from any other 
house near here. It is old and the rest 
are new. Father says it was considered an 


252 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

old house when he was a little boy. It 
used to be out in the country until a few 
years ago when the city grew out this way 
and our houses were built. It has three 
times as much ground about it as any 
other house and it is shut off to itself by 
the high fence and trees and shrub- 
bery.” 

“It’s a scary sort of place; I love it,” 
said Emily. 

“Most anything could happen in an old 
house like that,” Esther went on. “I 
asked my father who owned it and he said 
he didn’t know. No one has lived in it 
for years and years, not since any of our 
houses were built.” 

“It has been called the ‘vacant house’ 
ever since I was born,” said Emily. 

“That’s queer, that no one should live in 
it, I mean,” said Constance. 

“It’s especially queer,” Esther contin- 


“THE DEARWAS” 253 

ued in a significant tone “that it should 
be vacant now, when people need houses 
so badly that they are willing to pay any- . 
thing for them.” 

“Perhaps it is haunted,” Constance con- 
jectured. 

“I am sure it is,” Esther whispered. 
“Last night — ” 

“Yes, go on,” urged the Dearwas with 
a single voice. 

“Last night, in the middle of the night 
I woke up. I don’t know why, but I did. 

I don’t usually you know.” 

“For goodness sake, hurry,” Constance 
said exasperated. 

“Well for some reason I woke up, and I 
looked out the window. The window is 
near my bed, you know, and faces the 
back part of the vacant house. In sum- 
mer, when the leaves are on the trees I 
can’t even see the house, but in winter I 


254 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

can, as plain as anything. Last night I 
looked out and I saw — ” 

“What?” the others demanded breath- 
lessly. 

“As plain as anything I saw a light.” 

“But the windows are boarded up,” 
Emily objected. 

“Not in the back. The shutters are 
closed, but they have cracks, and through 
the cracks I saw the light. It was a weird 
kind of light and it moved. When I told 
Daddy about it this morning, he laughed 
and said I dreamed it, and that Mammy 
Jane mustn’t tell me any more ghost 
stories. But I didn’t dream it. I was 
wide awake. I know there was a light 
and it moved about.” 

The Dearwas were thrilled. “Not a 
word to the detectives,” Constance warned 
the rest. “We must throw them off the 
scent while we go to investigate.” 


“THE DEARWAS” 255 

“I’d like to have them with us,” Elisa- 
beth said timidly. 

“Oh, no,” Emily remonstrated, “it 
will be such fun to have a real secret for 
them to find out.” 

“I tell you what we’ll do,” Constance 
planned rapidly. “The boys don’t know 
that we have made Esther a Dearwa. If 
we take our knitting and go over to her 
house, they will think we are tired of the 
game. They will go off by themselves 
and then we can steal over to the vacant 
house.” 

“We can climb the back fence,” Emily 
added. “Come on, Dearwas.” 

Mrs. Thomson was relieved to learn that 
the conspirators were about to transfer 
their operations to other quarters for the 
afternoon. She was busy and paid little 
attention to their plans beyond warning 
them that the weather was cold and they 


256 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

must be home early. Mandy, on the con- 
trary, was much excited over Esther’s 
story. 

“When wuz it you seed dat light, honey, 
on de stroke ob twelve?” 

“I think so,” Esther replied. “I am 
sure it must have been.” 

“Yes’m, I’se shore too. Jes’ den Snow- 
ball wuz mighty rambuntious. Lawd, 
honey, dat cat’s fitten to be a Dearwa along 
wid Billy an’ Bobby. He keeps up wid 
yore-all’s carrying-ons. He know’d whut 
you wuz up to las’ night. And dat light 
now, did it move up an’ down, and’ back 
an’ fo’th, ’twill it make a cross?” 

“I believe so,” Esther answered uncer- 
tainly. “What do you think it was, 
Mandy?” 

“An, did you see a white han’ holdin’ on 
to dat light, a long bluish whitish han’?” 
Mandy went on in so sepulchral a tone 


“THE DEARWAS” 257 

that delightful shivers ran down the little 
girl’s spines. “Well, don’ you all go 
prowlin’ around ’twill I gits you a rabbit 
foot cotched in de dark ob de moon.” 

Elisabeth broke the spell. “We wouldn’t 
have a foot cut off of a dear little rabbit,” 
she said indignantly. 

However, Mandy’s sinister tone had so 
worked upon the conspirators that each 
privately resolved to move with caution. 
In accordance with their plan, they walked 
out the front gate ostentatiously carrying 
their knitting bags. As they hoped the 
detectives turned away in disgust. Ar- 
rived in Esther’s back yard, the girls left 
the bags on the porch, and dropped the 
dogs and themselves over the fence. 

They tiptoed noiselessly to the back door 
of the vacant house. Even the dogs moved 
cautiously instead of racing ahead as was 
their custom. The house appeared as 


258 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

usual with no signs of human occupancy. 
The Dearwas stealthily tried the various 
doors and windows within their reach; 
all were securely fastened. Disappointed 
they turned their attention to the premises. 
Nothing unusual was to be seen. 

“I believe you did dream it,” Constance 
said impatiently. 

“I did not,” Esther responded indig- 
nantly. 

“Then Mandy is right and it must have 
been a spook.” 

“That’s silly,” Elisabeth broke in. 
“You know there isn’t such a thing. If 
Dearwa really saw a light, some one 
carried it, but I can’t see how he got 
in. It’s dreadfully cold, let’s go 
home.” 

“Go home,” Emily repeated in dismay. 
“Why, we’ve just come. I always have 
been wild to see the inside of this house 


“THE DEARWAS” 259 

and I am going to to-day if it is possible.” 

“It is, look there!” Esther pointed tri- 
umphantly to a shutter a fraction of an 
inch ajar. “A tall man could reach and 
open that without any trouble.” 

“So could we, with a step-ladder,” Emily 
said, “or even a chair and a box.” 

“We wouldn’t dare,” Elisabeth ex- 
claimed. 

“Of course we would. Have you an old 
kitchen chair we can have, Esther? Come 
on let’s see what we can find,” and Emily 
led the way. 

A suitable chair and empty soap box 
were discovered, lifted over the fence, 
and placed in position against the house in 
spite of Elisabeth’s remonstrances. Esther 
by right of discovery was the first to mount. 
She pulled open the shutter. 

“The window has been broken and un- 
locked,” she announced. “Now, say I 


260 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

was dreaming! It looks awfully dark and 
lonesome inside.” 

“Let me see,” chorused the rest, even 
Elisabeth. Each mounted in turn to the 
place of vantage and peered into the dark- 
ness within. 

“Let’s jump inside and search the house,” 
Emily proposed. 

“I couldn’t,” Elisabeth refused with a 
shudder. 

The others laughed at her lack of cour- 
age, but when it came to jumping down 
into the inner obscurity each urged the 
other to go first. 

“Oh, well, I’ll go first,” Emily finally 
consented, “if you will promise to follow 
me right away.” 

All promised except Elisabeth. “I 
wouldn’t go into that old dark house for 
anything,” she said with a shudder. “I’d 
rather go home than anywhere else.” 


“THE DEARWAS” 261 

“I’d almost rather,” Constance admitted. 
“But go on, Emily, and I’ll jump 
next.” 

Emily mounted the improvised ladder. 
“One for the money, two for the show, 
three to make ready, and four to go.” 
She jumped, but not into the house. At 
the final moment her courage failed. She 
sprang to the ground and rushed wildly 
toward the fence, followed by the other 
Dearwas overcome by panic. 

“I heard something,” Emily whispered. 

“What?” asked the others. 

“Something awful, like a moan.” 

They returned to the window, too much 
fascinated by real mystery to keep away. 
This time Elisabeth thrust Billy’s head in- 
side. He sniffed eagerly, emitted a low 
growl, and struggled to spring inside. 
Elisabeth turned a flushed face to the 
others. 


262 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“He says there is really some one in the 
house.” 

They turned precipitously for a final 
flight to find themselves confronted by 
grinning detectives. 

“Thought you’d given us the slip, didn’t 
you? Thought you’d thrown us off the 
scent.” 

Dearwas hushed them, fingers held 
warningly on lips. 

“What is up?” The detectives inquired 
rather impressed. 

“Let’s tell them,” Elisabeth begged. 

All were willing. Swearing the boys to 
secrecy Constance laid bare the situation. 
Dick and Ralph were for an immediate 
entrance. George said nothing. Norman 
advocated caution. 

“We may have come upon a den of 
thieves,” he said, enjoying the sound and 
effect of his words, “and if we are to make 


“THE DEARWAS” 263 

a capture and escape with our lives we’ve 
got to be careful. I think we should leave 
the shutter the way we found it and go on 
home. Nobody will go in or come out in 
broad daylight. As soon as it is dark, we 
detectives will go on the job. We’ll hide 
in the shrubbery and keep watch. Sister, 
why don’t you spend the night with Esther, 
and both of you sleep with one eye open? 
Wouldn’t it be great if we could really 
discover something wrong, report it to the 
police and help them make a raid? We’d 
have a right to call ourselves detectives 
sure enough then.” 

“Don’t forget we discovered everything 
first,” Esther said. 

“We won’t. It’s the detectives and 
Dearwas together this time. We had 
better leave now. The criminals mustn’t 
suspect that they are being watched.” 

They retreated to the other side of the 


264 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

fence to perfect their plans. A discus- 
sion arose as to the advisability of taking 
some grown person into their confidence. 

“Please let’s tell Mrs. Thomson or Mrs. 
Lewis,” Elisabeth begged. “A real secret 
isn’t a bit of fun. I kept one once for a 
long time and I hated it. Besides, if 
something is wrong, grown people ought to 
know and attend to it.” 

George agreed. He too had kept a 
secret at one time and had not enjoyed the 
experience. Moreover, ever since Elisa- 
beth had not prevented his admission to 
the Detective Band he had felt so grate- 
ful that he was glad to take her side in 
any controversy. 

The rest dissented vigorously. Here 
was the opportunity of a lifetime for a 
real adventure and they would run no risk 
of spoiling it. Elisabeth and George were 
overruled by the rest and persuaded to 


265 


“THE DEARWAS” 

wait for a day or two before divulging the 
secret. 

Nature prevented a further investigation 
that night. A hail storm kept the detect- 
ives at home, and healthful slumber over- 
took the two Dearwas who were supposed 
to watch throughout the night. 


CHAPTER XIV 


A NEW SIDE TO COUSIN ANNE 

N EXT morning before breakfast 
Constance and Elisabeth tele- 
phoned to Esther to learn the 
result of the vigil. Esther was forced to 
admit the humiliating truth; neither she 
nor Emily had awakened during the night. 

“Then we know no more to-day than we 
did yesterday,” Constance declared dis- 
gustedly. “Well, we’ll have a meeting 
with the detectives this morning and de- 
cide what to do next.” 

“Not this morning,” Mrs. Thomson in- 
terrupted. “I must take you children 
down town for the heavy shoes you need.” 

“Oh, dear,” Constance complained, 
“that’s always the way! Here we have a 


266 


A NEW SIDE 267 

perfectly good mystery on our hands 
and — ” 

“Must stop for shoes on your feet,” Mrs. 
Thomson finished with a laugh. “Never 
mind, I am sure the mystery will keep.” 

Before they left on the shopping expedi- 
tion, the Mr. Lipton mentioned in Cousin 
Anne’s letter telephoned making an ap- 
pointment to call that same afternoon. 
He had only that morning returned to the 
city and found Miss Lee’s letter await- 
ing him. He expressed an eager desire to 
see Elisabeth whose grandfather had been 
his dearest friend. 

“I suppose he will want to take you to 
live with him,” Constance said ill-humor- 
edly, for recently Elisabeth had been re- 
ceiving many more offers of a home. 

“Don’t worry, no one shall have her until 
her cousin comes to America,” Mrs Thom- 
son assured them both. “It is very strange 


268 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

that I have had no answer to the cable I 
sent Miss Lee.” 

At that moment Billy entered the room 
with a letter in his mouth. He had re- 
ceived it from the postman and brought it 
straight to Elisabeth. 

“It is for Aunt Harriet, Billy Dog,” 
Elisabeth said. “Take it to her.” 

Billy refused. 

“Isn’t that funny? He knows the letter 
is from Uncle John and so he wants me to 
have it.” Billy wagged his tail affirm- 
atively. “If it were from any one else he 
would take it to you. Don’t you honestly 
think he is the smartest dog in the world?” 
Elisabeth handed the letter to Mrs. Thom- 
son as she spoke. 

“He certainly is if you interpret his 
actions accurately,” Mrs.Thomson replied 
absently as she opened the letter. “Miss 
Lee is ill again,” she said after a moment. 


A NEW SIDE 269 

“Has been for the past two weeks, so father 
has been unable to see her. Overwork and 
grief are given as the cause. Elisabeth, 
she evidently loved your father very dearly. 
Perhaps she is really a fine woman, little 
girl, and you were too young to appreci- 
ate her.” 

“Is she very ill?” Elisabeth asked. 

“Evidently, as it will be another week or 
so before she may have a visitor. I shall 
write her at once not to worry about you, 
and you must write to your Cousin Kate 
to-day to explain why we haven’t heard 
further from Miss Lee. First, though, 
telephone Miss Spence.” 

Constance made a grimace at the name. 
“I hope Mr. Lipton won’t be anything like 
her,” she said, “but I am afraid he will 
be since he chose to-day to call just when 
we want to be busy with our investigation.” 

He came in the afternoon at three 


270 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

o’clock, and proved to be as unlike Miss 
Spence as was humanly possible. A 
kindly faced, white haired old man, re- 
markably alert for his years, rather shab- 
bily dressed, he made a much more favor- 
able impression. He was deeply moved at 
the sight of Elisabeth and kissed her ten- 
derly. 

With an arm about the little girl he told 
her of his great love for her grandfather in 
the years gone by. “He was the finest 
gentleman I ever knew and the best friend 
a man ever had. If we had only known,” 
he repeated many times, “that a little grand- 
daughter of his had been left alone, my 
wife and I would have hurried home from 
Washington to you. I can’t tell you how 
happy we would have been to have had 
you with us all these months, and the grief 
it is to me that I knew nothing of the acci- 
dent that deprived you of your parents. 


A NEW SIDE 271 

My wife is ill just at present, but as soon 
as she is sufficiently recovered you must 
come to us and regard our home as your 
own. No one could be more welcome.” 

“Please don’t take her away from us,” 
Constance cried. “We need her dread- 
fully.” 

“I am thankful she has found such 
friends,” he answered with a kindly glance, 
“and she must do what will make her hap- 
piest. I want her to realize, though, that 
she shall never lack for a home while I am 
alive.” 

Elisabeth thanked him, and Constance 
looked much perturbed. She almost 
wished he were like Miss Spence as she 
saw how greatly Elisabeth was attracted to- 
ward him. She decided all was lost when 
he turned to her little companion with the 
question : 

“Haven’t you a dog?” 


272 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

For Elisabeth’s face beamed as she an- 
swered: “Yes indeed, two, and a cat be- 
sides. Would you like to see them?” 

“Yes, but let me show you something 
first.” He took a bit of folded paper from 
his pocketbook and handed it to Elisabeth. 
It was a newspaper clipping containing 
Billy’s picture and the account of his res- 
cue of Mrs. Thomson’s coupe. “I love 
dogs and am apt to cut out articles de- 
scribing their cleverness. I did not associ- 
ate the Billy of this article with any friend 
of mine until I received Anne’s letter this 
morning. Then I wondered if you could 
be the Miss Elisabeth Lee Howard to 
whom the dog belonged.” 

“I am so glad you like dogs,” Elisabeth 
said fervently. “You will love Billy and 
Bobby. They and Betsy are shut up in my 
room because Mrs. Thomson says it isn’t 
polite to have animals around when there 


A NEW SIDE 273 

are visitors. You don’t seem like a visitor,” 
she added, “but like a member of the 
family.” 

“I am glad of that,” Mr. Lipton said 
heartily, “and if Mrs. Thomson doesn’t ob- 
ject I’d like to see your pets.” 

Billy and Bobby who thought their im- 
prisonment must be due to some punish- 
able offense which they had unwittingly 
committed met Elisabeth at her door with 
the most apologetic mien. They were de- 
lighted when she assured them that they 
had not been ‘bad dogs’ and that they were 
to go to the drawing room to see company. 
Billy went bounding down the steps before 
her but Bobby waited to be carried, whim- 
pering, as she picked him up, to express 
his wounded feelings. Betsy whose con- 
science was less sensitive followed the rest 
as happy as usual. 

The three made friends with Mr. Lip- 


274 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

ton at once. Billy gravely offered his 
paw as a sign of approval. Bobby and 
Betsy sat contentedly in his lap. 

“If ever you come to my house to live,” 
Mr. Lipton said, “you may be sure there 
will be room for these friends of yours.” 

“We have plenty of room for them here,” 
Constance assured him. 

He made a long call. The little girls 
soon felt as though they had known him 
always and talked to him as freely as to 
each other. He agreed with Mrs. Thom- 
son and Constance that their home was the 
best place for Elisabeth pending Cousin 
Anne’s arrival. 

“I [haven’t been able to decide which 
house she meant should be opened for you,” 
he said. “She owns several houses in the 
city and two in the country.” 

“She means the one my grandfather left 
to me,” Elisabeth informed him. “I don’t 



a 


yy 


BILLY GRAVELY OFFERED HIS PAW 

























































































\ 

#• 














A NEW SIDE 275 

know exactly where it is, but I know it is 
a large, old-fashioned house, not far in the 
country.” 

“I’ll look it up, but I think we shall ven- 
ture to disregard her order to put you in 
a big house alone with a governess.” 

“Do you know my cousin very well?” 
Elisabeth asked. 

“Very well, indeed. I have had charge 
of her affairs for many years. She hasn’t 
lived in Louisville since she was a young 
girl just out of her teens, but she has come 
back to see me every few years. She is a 
fine woman, very conscientious, and will do 
her best for you.” 

“She doesn’t like animals or children,” 
Elisabeth said. “Did you know that?” 

“She will like you, both for your fath- 
er’s sake and for your own, and she will 
like your animals because they are 
yours.” 


276 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Elisabeth shook her head doubtfully. 
“She never has liked me or Billy, and she 
doesn’t think I have been brought up right. 
I wish she would let me live here, or with 
you, or Cousin Kate. I am afraid she will 
send me to boarding school, and I can’t go 
because I can’t leave my dogs and cat. 
Billy would die without me, wouldn’t you, 
Billy Dog?” 

Billy came to lay his head in her hand 
in the comforting way he had, for her tone 
sounded troubled. 

“Dear child, don’t worry about the fu- 
ture. Your cousin hasn’t come much into 
contact with little girls and their pets, and 
just at first you may not understand each 
other, but you are made of the same stuff, 
dear, you are descendants of the same 
splendid men and women, and you are 
bound to be friends when you come to 
know each other well.” 


A NEW SIDE 277 

“I had a kitten and she threw it out of 
her room and hurt it.” 

“She didn’t do such a thing in- 
tentionally, that I know. Your cousin may 
not be fond of animals or of children, but 
she is not cruel. Did she ever tell you 
of the time she stood on a frozen street for 
two hours protecting a horse with an injured 
foot from abuse by its driver?” 

“Did Cousin Anne do that?” Elisabeth 
asked in utter astonishment. 

“She certainly did. She stayed with the 
horse until the officer of the Humane So- 
ciety whom she had great difficulty in hav- 
ing summoned came to the rescue.” 

“I didn’t know that,” Elisabeth said 
earnestly. “I wish I could get even with 
her for it.” 

“Get even with her? What do you 
mean, dear?” 

“You see, in our Band of Mercy, when 


278 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

any one treats you unkindly you try to for- 
get it, but when any one does something 
nice for you, you try to get even. Of course 
Cousin Anne didn’t help the horse on my 
account, but I’d like to do something for 
her anyhow because I told about the 
cat.” 

“I see. I can tell you something else 
she did. A poor little girl she heard about 
had a crooked back. She paid out hun- 
dreds of dollars to have the back straight- 
ened so that instead of being a helpless in- 
valid the girl grew into a strong self-sup- 
porting woman. She is maried now, with 
children of her own. She named one of^ 
them Anne Lee.” 

He laughed at Elisabeth’s expression of 
bewilderment. 

“When Cousin Anne visited us,” she said, 
“she wasn’t a bit like the Cousin Anne you 
are telling me about. She was cross and 


A NEW SIDE 279 

hateful and didn’t do a kind act for any- 
body. 5 ’ 

“That was just before she went back to 
France, wasn’t it? Well, she was very un- 
happy then. She had had a terrible disap- 
pointment. When you are older, perhaps 
she will tell you about it.” 

“She never was nice when she visited us, 
even before she went to France.” 

“Then there was some reason for it. Per- 
haps you weren’t nice to her.” 

“I wasn’t.” 

“You are older now. I haven’t the 
slightest fear that you and she won’t get 
along.” 

“I have, but I am glad to know about 
the horse and the child. I am sorry now 
that she is sick. Did you know that she 
is so ill she can’t see Mr. Thomson for a 
long time?” 

“No,” he answered with grave concern. 


280 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“I am going to write her a nice letter,” 
Elisabeth went on, “and I shall not. say an- 
other horrid thing about her. Only I 
hope she won’t come home soon.” 

“You have read fairy tales in which the 
princess was so disguised or transformed 
that no one could recognize her? In some 
way your Cousin Anne has disguised her 
real self from you. When she comes home 
you must take pains to penetrate that dis- 
guise, and learn to know her as she really 
is. Then you will love her and she will 
love you.” 

“Aunt Jessie says you can make anybody 
lovable if you love her enough, and any- 
body amiable if you are kind and pleasant 
yourself,” Elisabeth said thoughtfully. 
“George likes me now. Do you really be- 
lieve Cousin Anne ever could?” 

“I am sure of it.” 

“Aunt Jessie says that if everybody tried 


A NEW SIDE 281 

to be kind to all living creatures whether 
they have two feet of four, that the world 
would be a happy place.” 

“Who is Aunt Jessie?” 

“Don’t you know? She is Emily’s 
mother. Wouldn’t you like to go see her 
and Emily and Norman and Barry? And 
Goldie, too? Goldie is their canary. He 
isn’t a bit afraid of Billy. Billy is kind to 
all living creatures except burglars, and 
dogs bigger than he is when I pet them. 
You can’t be kind to burglars, can you? 
You have to put them in jail.” 

Mr. Lipton laughed. “You can see that 
the prison is a decent place where the bur- 
glars will be reformed,” he said. “Many 
good men and women have given their 
lives to the task.” 

“There are so many, many things to do 
in this world, aren’t there?” Elisabeth 
sighed. 


282 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Yes, but there are many people to do 
them, so that no one person need be over- 
burdened. ” 

“I shall be a doctor,” Elisabeth confided. 
“I haven’t decided yet whether I’ll be a 
people’s doctor or a dog’s doctor. What 
are you going to be, Constance?” 

“A great writer,” Constance returned un- 
hesitatingly, “and tell other people what to 
do.” 

“Esther intends to be a great musical 
composer, only she hates to practice so I 
don’t see how she can be. Emily says she 
is going to marry and have a great big 
country place where she can keep all the 
children and animals and birds that she 
wants, and she is going to have a huge pas- 
ture for poor tired horses that are brought 
out from the city to rest. Please come now 
to see Emily and Aunt Jessie, Mr. Lipton.” 

“Not to-day, little girl. I must get 


A NEW SIDE 283 

back home to my sick wife. I shall come 
soon again if I may, and I shall hope for 
the pleasure of taking you young ladies to 
lunch and a matinee.” 

The young ladies earnestly assured him 
the pleasure would be theirs. Every one 
including the dogs and Betsy accompanied 
him to the door and bade him a reluctant 
good-by. 

“Isn’t he a lovely old man?” Elisabeth 
exclaimed. 

“Yes, but you don’t want to go live at 
his house, do you?” Constance asked jeal- 
ously. 

“I’d rather live here with you,” Elisa- 
beth answered to Constance’s great satis- 
faction. 

Mrs. Thomson wrote a letter to Miss 
Lee and took it to the little red house to 
read* it to Mrs. Lewis. The two friends 
had -a long talk. 


284 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“I don’t want to surrender Elisabeth to 
any one and I dislike this Miss Lee in- 
tensely because she has a right to her,” 
Mrs. Thomson confessed. 

“Would you like to adopt Elisabeth 
and keep her always?” 

“I’d like to keep her for a year or two 
anyway. It would break Constance’s 
heart to lose her.” 

“Nonsense! You said yourself that she 
doesn’t need her now that she has learned 
to be friends with the other children and 
has so much to occupy her.” 

“I should miss her myself. I am not 
fond of children just because they are chil- 
dren, like you and John. But I really am 
fond of Elisabeth. I have even become 
somewhat attached to her animals. I still 
think a house is no place for a dog and if 
ever we have one of our own — ” 

“To think of your considering such a 


A NEW SIDE 285 

possibility!” Mrs. Lewis interrupted with a 
laugh. 

“ — I shall train it to stay out of doors, 
but Billy and Bobby are as inoffensive as 
dogs can be and Betsy doesn’t annoy me as 
much as she did. Elisabeth is really an ex- 
ceptional child, Jessie. She is a great deal 
like you except that she isn’t so lively and 
adventuresome. If she could stay with us 
for a year or two, she might do for Con- 
stance what you have done for me, she and 
Emily together. It makes me downright 
jealous to think of her in charge of some 
one else.” 

“I hate the thought too,” Mrs. Lewis 
admitted, “but perhaps Miss Lee may be 
able to do more for the child than we can. 
Anyway she is her nearest relative and 
legal guardian while we have no claim 
except our love.” 

“You know Elisabeth’s theory, that chil- 


286 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

dren an’d animals belong to those who love 
them best.” 

“Miss Lee may learn to love the child 
dearl’y. How can she help it? She may be 
a good*, amiable woman really, and com- 
pletely misjudged by Elisabeth.” 

“I am scarcely the one to criticise her 
for impatience with children and animals,” 
Mrs. Thomson said with a laugh, “and after 
wishing so fervently for a responsible rel- 
ative for Elisabeth, I am foolish to com- 
plain when she appears. Nevertheless, I 
resent Cousin Anne.” 


CHAPTER XV 


THE HORRID SECRET 

T HE following afternoon Dearwas 
and detectives determined to 
enter and search the vacant 
house. Elisabeth said all she could to dis- 
suade them. She reminded Emily of the 
many times her adventures had ended in 
trouble. She urged Constance to go home 
because of the cold and sore throat of 
which she had complained that morning. 
She begged the boys to turn the investiga- 
tion over to the police and not to expose 
themselves needlessly to danger. 

The others scoffed at her warnings, and 
since she could not prevent the expedition 
she went along with it so far as the back of 
the vacant house but positively declined to 
287 


288 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 


enter. Even Norman hesitated when he 
found the kitchen door unlocked, and all 
drew back when Dick pushed it open dis- 
closing the darkness within. Elisabeth 
was urging instant flight when suddenly 
they heard the cry of a child and the whine 
of a dog. 

Her own dogs leaped forward into the 
darkness. She followed. The others drew 
back. 

“Dearwa, don’t dare go any further. 
There is really some one in the house.” 

“Elisabeth come back quick. We’ll go 
for help.” 

Billy and Bobby were clawing at the in- 
side door; Elisabeth opened it. The wails 
of child and dog were distinctly audible 
from the floor above. The dogs scam- 
pered up the dark stairway. Elisabeth fol- 
lowed. The others besought her to return. 
They heard a man’s voice evidently re- 


THE HORRID SECRET 289 

assuring the child. Norman ordered the 
rest of his band into the yard and hurried 
after Elisabeth to force her to descend the 
stairs. She was already on the top, standing 
before a door against which the dogs were 
hurling themselves with excited growls and 
barks. 

The dog inside answered. For a mo- 
ment there was bedlam. The door was 
opened a crack and a man’s voice de- 
manded what was wanted. Elisabeth 
thrust Bobby into Norman’s arms and held 
on to Billy. Even so, conversation was al- 
most impossible. The man, coming out of 
the room in his anxiety, implored that the 
dogs be silenced for the sake of his sick 
baby. He carried a candle in one hand, a 
heavy club in the other, and his relief was 
manifest when he realized he had only a 
boy and girl to deal with. 

At Elisabeth’s suggestion he allowed his 


290 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

dog, a small black puppy, to come into the 
hall. All three animals ceased barking in 
order to sniff one another. The boys and 
girls left outside now regained sufficient 
courage to join their two comrades and ap- 
peared at the top of the stairs, where they 
were hushed into silence by the frantic ges- 
tures of the man. The baby cried pitifully 
behind the closed door. Its father com- 
manded the unexpected visitors to leave at 
once. Norman emboldened by the pres- 
ence of the others asked an explanation. 
Elisabeth made inquiries regarding the 
sick child while she examined the puppy. 

“See here,” the man said to Elisabeth, 
“you like babies and dogs, don’t you?” 

“Yes, and we have pledged ourselves to 
try to protect them from cruel usuage. 
That’s why we are here and if you have 
kidnapped this baby and dog we’ll rescue 
them, and if you are cruel to them we’ll 


THE HORRID SECRET 291 

prosecute you.” Elisabeth spoke as fear- 
lessly as though she had not been panic- 
stricken a few moments before. 

“Then I’ll tell you my story and ask you 
to help me for the sake of my baby and 
dog. When we came to the city a few 
days ago, my wife and baby both came 
down with the fever. The landlady 
turned us out of the house on account of 
the other boarders. The city hospital was 
crowded and I found if I left them there, 
the authorities wouldn’t let me and the pup 
stay with the baby, and I knew he’d fret 
himself sicker without us. I tried to find 
a furnished cottage and couldn’t. Then I 
thought about this house and came around 
to see if it was still vacant. When I was 
a boy, I worked here for a year and I know 
the place like a book. I broke in and fixed 
up my old room for my family and we are 
getting along fine. If you keep quiet, my 


292 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

wife and baby will soon be well. Then 
we’ll clean up and go away and no harm 
will be done. Say, won’t you go 
and say nothing for the sake of the 
baby?” 

He opened the door that the children 
might look into the lamp-lighted room. 
The baby with flushed cheeks and bright 
eyes was babbling to the puppy that had re- 
turned to the bed. He stretched out his 
arms to the man crying, “Daddy, Daddy.” 

The man lifted the little fellow in his 
arms as he continued: “I have been afraid 
the pup would bark and give us away, but 
the baby would fret without him. Besides, 
I couldn’t turn him out on the street to 
starve.” 

“Of course not,” Elisabeth agreed. 
“But the baby looks very sick to me. I 
am sure he should have a doctor.” 

“I couldn’t have one without explaining 


THE HORRID SECRET 293 

matters and getting us turned out. Besides 
he is lots better.” 

“If we could find out who owns the 
house, we could ask them to let you stay,” 
Norman said sensibly, “then you could 
have a doctor.” 

“Who owned it when you used to work 
here?” asked Ralph. 

“I don’t remember the last name. 
There was an old gentleman I called 
‘Colonel,’ and a boy a little younger than 
me named Sidney — ” 

“Oh,” exclaimed Elisabeth. “Who else 
was in the family?” 

“Just one young lady. The boy always 
called her ‘Cousin Anne’ but I don’t re- 
member — why what’s the matter?” 

He might well inquire. Elisabeth, Con- 
stance, and Emily were thrown into such 
strange paroxyisms by his simple statement 
that the others gazed in astonishment. 


294 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“An old gentleman, Sidney, and Cousin 
Anne,” Elisabeth exclaimed. 

“Cousin Anne,” echoed Constance. 

“Cousin Anne,” Emily repeated. 

“Have you girls lost your minds?” Nor- 
man demanded. 

The girls looked at one another. 
“Cousin Anne,” they began again. 

“Don’t stand there saying ‘Cousin 
Anne,’” Esther commanded irritably. 
“Tell us quick what it means.” 

“It means,” Elisabeth answered sol- 
emnly, “that we need look no further for 
the owner. This house belongs to me.” 

She smiled at the baby who was stretch- 
ing out its tiny arms to her. “You shall 
stay here until you are quite well and you 
shall have a doctor to-night.” 

The man began to plead with her to keep 
his secret, for he was by no means con- 
vinced that she had power to extend hos- 


THE HORRID SECRET 295 

pitality to him. He saw himself in jail 
and his family abandoned as a result of the 
children’s story to their families. He im- 
plored and threatened and promised to 
move out that very night if the children 
would keep silent until morning. 

Elisabeth tried in vain to reassure him. 
He ordered the intruders out, warned them 
that he would not be held responsible if 
they contracted the fever, closed the door 
in their faces. They heard him scurrying 
about as though preparing to leave. 

“Let’s go leave him alone,” Constance 
said. “I am freezing and my throat hurts. 
I wish we had never found the man and I 
hate being bothered with him. It’s all 
Esther’s fault. I told you not to make her 
a Dearwa.” 

“That’s a pleasant thing to say,” Esther 
retorted hotly. “You were more anxious 
than any one else to know my secret.” 


296 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“Please don’t quarrel,” Elisabeth begged. 
“I am most to blame, I suppose. I knew 
we shouldn’t go into the house alone but 
when I heard the baby and the puppy cry, 
I forgot everything but them.” 

“You marched in as if you weren’t a bit 
afraid,” George said. 

“Well anyway, come on home now,” 
Constance said. “I am sure I have the 
fever already, and you will all be down 
with it by morning. The man and his 
family aren’t our business.” She led the 
way to the yard. 

“Of course we’ll have to see to them, now 
we’ve found them,” Emily remonstrated, 
“but you were right, Dearwa, real secrets 
are horrid.” 

“That man mustn’t be allowed to move 
out,” Elisabeth said firmly, “and the baby 
must have a doctor. You detectives stay 
here while we Dearwas go tell Aunt Har- 


THE HORRID SECRET 297 

riet and telephone Mr. Lipton, and don’t let 
him escape. Constance, if you get the 
fever, Aunt Harriet’ll never forgive me.” 

As the girls hurried to the front gate, 
they met Esther’s father coming in search 
of them. He listened to their incoherent 
story with concern and went to the aid of 
the boys while Elisabeth, Constance, and 
Emily hurried on home. 

Elisabeth called up Mr. Lipton while 
Constance and Emily informed Mrs. 
Thomson of the afternoon’s proceedings. 
The old gentleman confirmed Elisabeth’s 
belief that the vacant house was hers, or 
would be when she came of age. He 
promised that he would visit it immedi- 
ately as her agent and do what was neces- 
sary for the welfare of the baby. 

“There, everything is all right,” she said 
to Mrs. Thomson and the girls, “and isn’t 
it wonderful that my home is right around 


298 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

the corner? I won’t mind now if Cousin 
Anne does come home and take me to live 
with her. I can still go to school with you, 
and play with you, and study with you 
every day. I can still belong to the Band 
of Mercy. I can still be a Dearwa. Once 
a Dearwa, always a Dearwa, forever and 
ever, Amen.” 

“The Dearwas will have to disband this 
very moment,” Mrs. Thomson declared, 
“unless you three give me your promise that 
never again will you enter any house with- 
out my knowledge and consent. I am 
trembling yet at the thought of the danger 
you ran.” 

“Elisabeth wanted us to tell you,” Emily 
confessed, “but we thought it was such fun 
to have -a secret.” 

“I was afraid until I heard the baby and 
the dog,” Elisabeth said. “Then I didn’t 
stop to think.” 


THE HORRID SECRET 299 

“Will you promise me that hereafter you 
will stop to think even before you answer a 
cry of distress, lest you cause more suffer- 
ing than you relieve? Every one of you 
may have caught that baby’s illness.” 

Constance began to cry. “I have caught 
it already, I know I have. My throat 
hurts and my head aches and I feel dread- 
fully.” 

Mrs. Thomson examined her with alarm, 
for Constance’s face was not red and glow- 
ing like the other girls’ but was blue and 
pinched. She was put to bed at once and 
the doctor summoned. Emily ran on 
home and Elisabeth made herself as useful 
as possible, feeling conscience-stricken as 
well as anxious, that she had led the way 
into danger. 

Dr. Wilson came straight from the 
vacant house where he. had been summoned 
by Mr. Lipton. He had found the baby 


300 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

very ill and meant to return to him as soon 
as he had examined Constance. He be- 
lieved the little girl was suffering with 
nothing more serious than a heavy cold 
which would soon yield to rest and treat- 
ment, and relieved Elisabeth’s mind by ex- 
plaining that Constance could not so 
quickly have been made ill by exposure to 
the baby’s fever. Nevertheless he scolded 
both chidren well for their imprudence of 
the afternoon. 

In answer to Elisabeth’s eager questions, 
he told her that a district nurse had been 
procured for the baby, and that everything 
possible was being done for him. The 
father had sent his thanks to the Dearwas 
and gratefully accepted the aid of the de- 
tectives who had run innumerable errands 
and brought to the door all needed sup- 
plies. Henceforth no young person was 
to be allowed inside the house. It was for- 


THE HORRID SECRET 301 

tunate, the doctor added, that the case had 
been reported that day. 

Mrs. Thomson sent Elisabeth to bed 
early and prepared a couch for herself be- 
side Constance. She felt apprehensive in 
spite of the doctor’s reassurance. 

Constance passed a restless night and 
Mrs. Thomson was up a great many times. 
She was surprised to find herself accom- 
panied by Billy whenever she left the room. 
He walked beside her to bathroom, linen 
closet, or kitchen. She was not a timid 
woman, nevertheless there had been ac- 
counts of robberies in the city lately and she 
found Billy a real comfort as she went 
about the big silent house. When she lay 
down, he returned to the couch in the hall. 
The moment she stirred she found him be- 
side her regarding her with his steady de- 
pendable eyes. For the first time Mrs. 
Thomson realized that Billy was beautiful. 


302 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

In the morning Constance showed so 
little improvement that Mrs. Thomson tel- 
ephoned Dr. Wilson asking him to come 
at once and bring a nurse. 


CHAPTER XVI 


THE STORM 

T RYING times followed. Con- 
stance developed scarlet fever 
and was a very ill little girl. 
There was so much illness in the city just 
then because of the unusually cold weather, 
lack of coal, and various epidemics, that 
no nurse was available. Little Barry fell 
sick; therefore his mother could not help 
Mrs. Thomson. Joe, the houseman, was 
compelled to give up his position suddenly 
in response to a summons from his mother 
who had met with an accident. Jennie, 
the maid, forgetful of many favors shown 
her by the Thomsons, left them in their 
trouble. 

Poor Mrs. Thomson was in despair. 


303 


304 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“What shall I do,” she said to Mandy and 
Elisabeth. “No other servants will come 
in under the circumstances and there pos- 
itively isn’t a nurse off duty.” 

“Nebber min’, honey, we’se gwine man- 
age somehow,” Mandy comforted her. 

“I’ll help all I can,” Elisabeth promised. 
“You need me and Billy now, don’t you?” 

“I do, indeed,” Mrs. Thomson answered 
in a troubled tone, “but I feel I must send 
you away. You might take the fever, 
yourself.” 

“I’ve had it,” Elisabeth said triumph- 
antly. “Really I have, so I may stay and 
help you, mayn’t I?” 

Dr. Wilson was consulted. After ques- 
tioning Elisabeth closely and being assured 
that she had indeed had scarlet fever, he 
consented to her remaining in the house 
though he barred her from Constance’s 
bedside. 


THE STORM 305 

“But wouldn’t you rather go away, 
dear?” Mrs. Thomson asked. “Mr Lipton 
would be delighted to have you, or you 
could go out to California to your Cousin 
Kate?” 

“Of course I won’t go when you need 
me,” Elisabeth protested, indignant at the 
thought. 

Mrs. Thomson thanked her a little tear- 
fully. She did not know what she would 
do without Elisabeth’s help. 

Constance grew rapidly worse. The 
poor overworked doctor in spite of many 
other serious cases came several times a 
day. Mrs. Thomson, worn out with worry 
and nursing, began to look ill herself. 
Old Mandy with the cooking, housework, 
and laundrying on her hands, and suffer- 
ing with the “rhumatiz” was of no assist- 
ence in the sick room. Elisabeth was busy 
from morning till night, answering the 


306 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

doorbell and telephone, helping Mrs. 
Thomson one minute, Mandy the next, or 
running from one to the other with mes- 
sages. Mrs. Thomson saw to it that the 
little companion, who was never more 
worthy of the name, ate regular meals, took 
her animals walking every day, and went 
to bed early at night. As a consequence 
Elisabeth kept in good condition, though 
she performed a deal of hard work and 
shared Mrs. Thomson’s growing anxiety. 
The two came very close together as they 
ministered to Constance and Mrs. Thom- 
son found Elisabeth’s sympathy and un- 
tiring service a great comfort as well as 
help. 

“As for Billy,” she confided to Mrs. 
Lewis over the telephone, “that dog is un- 
canny in his intelligence. I couldn’t en- 
dure the nights without him. He goes 
with me wherever I must go, unless I ask 


THE STORM 307 

him to stay with Constance, carries arti- 
cles up and down stairs for me, and is al- 
ways on the spot when I need him. Last 
night I was so tired and worried I broke 
down and cried. How Billy knew it, 
I’ll never tell you, but he pushed open the 
door and came to stand beside me wag- 
ging his blessed old tail with all his might. 
I used to think it was silly to love a dog, 
but Billy has made me love him. I don’t 
believe there ever was another dog quite 
like him. 

“Most dogs are like him in their faith- 
fulness, but he is more intelligent than 
many even if he is a ‘common mon- 
grel.’ 

“Don’t remind me that I ever called him 
that or wanted to send him away,” Mrs. 
Thomson pleaded. “Dear little Bobby 
tries to do his bit, too, but he is still too 
much of a baby to be much help. His 


308 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

turn will come when Constance is well 
enough to be amused by his play.” 

One day Mandy sent word that she had 
tried in vain to leave her bed. She was 
downed by the “rhumatiz” at last. Mrs. 
Thomson collapsed on the couch. She 
felt ill herself, utterly helpless, and de- 
serted. Then she felt Eisabeth’s arms 
about her and saw Billy standing by her 
side. 

“Please don’t cry,” Elisabeth begged, 
“you still have me.” 

Mrs. Thomson held her close unable to 
answer. 

“I can cook quite well,” Elisabeth went 
on practically. “I am so glad Mandy 
taught me all those lonesome days.” 

“There shouldn’t have been any lone- 
some days, dear, but I, too, am glad that 
you can cook. I never so much as made 
a cup of coffee in my life. Do you suppose 


THE STORM 309 

that we can manage? We shall not need 
much to eat, and we’ll let the housework 
go.” 

They got on somehow for another day or 
two. Elisabeth did not have much actual 
cooking to do. As soon as the Band of 
Mercy heard of Mandy’s illness, the mem- 
bers kept the larder well supplied from 
their own homes. Elisabeth had only to 
warm over the viands on the gas stove, 
make fresh coffee for Mrs. Thomson, and 
arrange the trays. George could bring no 
food. He came often to the house, how- 
ever, seeking an opportunity to be of serv- 
ice in some other way. Several times, 
Elisabeth asked him to sweep the walks 
about the house; and the morning after 
the hard snow he brought Dick and Ralph 
with him to clear the walks. 

Then came a dreadful never-to-be-for- 
gotten night. In the late afternoon Con- 


310 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

stance became exceedingly restless. Mrs. 
Thomson, although conscious of a pain in 
her chest, felt she could not leave her child 
for a second. As she moved about in a vain 
effort to make Constance comfortable, she 
suffered more and more. What would 
happen, she asked herself worriedly, if she 
should fall ill. Eisabeth had carried on 
as bravely as any woman, but she was after 
all but a little girl, with only a child’s 
strength and judgment. Toward dark a 
violent storm arose. Mrs. Thomson felt 
as though the terrific gusts of wind howled 
and moaned in sympathy with her. Bobby 
was frightened and had to be carried about 
in Elisabeth’s arms, or else sit closely snug- 
gled up to Billy as he lay at Elisabeth’s 
feet. The doctor delayed his coming. 
Constance’s breathing became more irreg- 
ular. Mrs. Thomson’s pain increased 
with her alarm. She could eat nothing on 


THE STORM 311 

the tray which Elisabeth had prepared 
with such care. 

Elisabeth tried again and again to use 
the telephone. She could get no response. 

“The wind must have torn down the 
wire,” she concluded. “The doctor has 
never been so late before. Surely he will 
come soon.” 

Constance became quieter. Mrs. Thom- 
son sent Elisabeth to bed and threw herself 
on the couch to await the doctor’s coming, 
too uneasy to close her eyes though she had 
not slept for many hours. 

The storm continued in its violence. 
Still the doctor did not come. The tele- 
phone was useless. Constance’s condition 
grew alarming. Mrs. Thomson sprang up, 
intending to go next door to call for help. 
She fell back dizzily. Billy came to her 
side and asked as plainly as though he could 
speak what he should do. 


312 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

, “Wake Elisabeth,” Mrs. Thomson 
gasped. 

Billy obeyed instantly. Elisabeth ran 
to the room in response to his barking at 
her door. “What do you want me to do?” 
she asked Mrs. Thomson. 

“Are you afraid to go out into the wind 
and blackness?” 

“Not if I take Billy.” 

“Then wrap up warmly and go at once. 
Run to Aunt Jessie’s. Tell her to get any 
doctor quick, and come herself if possible. 
On you and Billy, child, depend our lives 
this night.” 

Elisabeth stopped for no questions. She 
hurried into clothing and outer garments 
with incredible speed. She had no need 
to call Billy. He was there beside her 
ready to go with her to the world’s end if 
need be. She pulled his sweater over his 
head, and the two groped their way down 


THE STORM 313 

the long dark stairway, through the dimly 
lighted hall to the front door. As Elisa- 
beth opened it, the icy wind sprang at her 
taking her breath and almost knocking her 
down. She closed the door with the great- 
est difficulty. 

Billy, shivering with the intense cold, 
pressed against her. They made their way 
slowly to the gate, struggling against the 
roaring monster that resisted their every 
step. The electric street lights revealed 
awful swaying shadows. The huge trees 
edging the sidewalk bent and twisted as 
though making frantic efforts to reach the 
two small creatures below them. Both 
child and dog were frightened as they 
nearly lost their footing time and time 
again. To Elisabeth’s other fears was 
added the terror of being too late, for prog- 
ress was painfully slow. 

Suddenly out of the blackness came a 


314 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

man. He seemed overwhelmingly large 
and his attitude threatening. Billy 
growled warningly and Elisabeth shrank 
against the fence to let him pass. Then 
she noticed he carried a medicine satchel 
and all fear left her. She tried to attract 
his attention. He could not hear her 
voice for the roaring of the wind. Des- 
perately she seized him about the leg and 
clung despite the wind’s effort to dislodge 
her. 

The man at first, in ignorance of what it 
was that had fastened itself upon him, 
tried to shake her off. Then, discovering 
a little girl, he lifted her in his arms that 
he might hear what she was endeavoring 
to tell him. 

“Are you a doctor?” Elisabeth screamed 
in his ear. 

“Yes,” he answered, “what’s the 
trouble?” 



a 


99 


ELIZABETH EXPLAINED IN A FEW WORDS 




















/ 











































































THE STORM 315 

Elisabeth explained in a few words. 
“Go into that house,” she directed. “The 
door is unlocked, and on upstairs to the 
first room on your right. Bobby will 
bark at you, so Mrs. Thomson will know 
you are coming. She will be gladder than 
anything to see you, for Constance is worse 
and she is dreadfully sick herself. Tell 
her I’ll come as soon as I can get Aunt 
Jessie. Please hurry.” 

“Better come on in and show me the 
way,” he urged. “This is a bad night for 
a little girl to be out.” 

“I have to go for Aunt Jessie. Please 
don’t stop. Please go on in. They need 
you right this minute.” 

The doctor insisted upon knowing where 
Aunt Jessie lived, but finding that her 
house was so near, he released Elisabeth, 
and promising to follow her directions, set 
off at a brisk walk. The wind was behind 


316 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

him and helped him forward. Elisabeth 
much relieved, continued her slow prog- 
ress. Only three lawns intervened be- 
tween the houses, normally a few seconds 
walk. To-night, Elisabeth and Billy were 
fifteen minutes in covering the short dis- 
tance. Elisabeth’s fingers were so numb 
that she could hardly ring the bell. When 
at last the door was opened she and Billy 
fairly fell inside. 

Mrs. Lewis picked up one, Mr. Lewis 
the other, and placing them in a warm 
room massaged them both. In a moment 
Elisabeth was able to tell her story. For- 
tunately Barry and Norman were better 
and just then asleep. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Lewis accompanied Elisabeth and Billy 
home. The return trip was quickly ac- 
complished. Elisabeth was supported by 
Mr. Lewis’s strong arms, and helped in- 
stead of hindered by the wind. 


THE STORM 317 

They were warmly welcomed by the 
doctor who was in great need of assist- 
ants to help care for two desperately ill 
patients. There was work for all, but 
especially for Elisabeth who was the only 
one knowing just where to find the differ- 
ent articles required. 

After an hour or two of work the big doc- 
tor turned and shook Elisabeth’s hand. 
“You have saved two lives, to-night, little 
woman, you and your dog. Now, please 
go to bed and sleep.” 

“Don’t worry any more,” Aunt Jessie 
added. “I shall send Mr. Lewis home 
to my invalids and stay here the rest of the 
night. Aunt Harriet and Constance are 
much better now.” 

So Elisabeth went to bed and slept the 
sleep of utter exhaustion. 

Although for several days Mrs. Thom- 
son and Constance continued to be very ill, 


318 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

the hardest times were over. Dr. Wilson 
and the big storm-brought doctor came 
regularly. Two trained nurses, one for 
day, the other for night duty, were some- 
how procured. Mandy came back with a 
young niece to help her. Mrs. Lewis ran 
in and out a dozen times a day. Elisabeth 
was thus relieved of responsibility though 
she still found much to do. As soon as 
Constance began to be convalescent she 
demanded the continuous presence of her 
little companion, and Elisabeth was hard 
pressed to keep her amused and happy in 
the bed she was so anxious to leave. 

“I’ll never be cross with you again,” 
Constance declared many times, and always 
after she had just been cross, “because you 
stayed with mother and me and saved our 
lives.” 

As soon as Mrs. Thomson also was on 
the road to recovery, Elisabeth was a 


THE STORM 319 

happy little girl. She enjoyed being made 
much of and praised, and as nothing gave 
her greater pleasure than to be of service 
she devoted herself to the two invalids 
with such heartiness that her attendance 
was doubly welcome. 

After a while Mrs. Thomson and Con- 
stance were able to be up and about again. 
The doctor’s visits grew less frequent and 
the nurses went away. Belinda and 
Charles had been engaged in place of 
Jennie and Joe. Mandy was quite re- 
covered. The household was itself once 
more. 

Mr. Lipton reported that the man in 
Elisabeth’s house was ready to move and 
wanted to see and thank her before he left 
the city with his wife and baby both of 
whom were quite well again. An inter- 
view was arranged. 

The man, his name was Tom Sand, told 


320 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Elisabeth he wanted his baby to join a 
Band of Mercy just as soon as his age per- 
mitted, and that he himself intended to try 
to keep the Band’s pledge in return for all 
the kindness he had received. 

Elisabeth asked him a great many ques- 
tions about her father whom he had known 
as a little boy just her age. 

“He was like you,” Mr. Sand told her, 
“crazy about babies and animals. He was 
always bringing in some stray creature.” 

“What did Cousin Anne do? Did she 
let him keep them.” 

“Not in the house, she didn’t, but he 
could do what he liked in the yard and 
stable. She wouldn’t touch any of his 
animals but she always sent them out food. 
Sometimes he might forget to feed them 
but she never did.” 

Elisabeth’s face grew radiant with hope. 
“And she wasn’t cross about them?” 


THE STORM 321 

“No,” he answered, “she was never 
cross with the boy no matter what he did.” 

As soon as the Sands were gone, the 
vacant house was aired and fumigated, 
and Mr. Lipton promised Elisabeth she 
should explore it to her heart’s content as 
soon as the weather moderated. 

As if to fill her cup of happiness to the 
brim, Elisabeth was allowed to hear one 
tiny fragment of a conversation between 
Mrs. Thomson and Mrs. Lewis. 

“You asked me once, Jessie if I should 
like to adopt Elisabeth. I wasn’t sure 
then. I am sure now. I want to adopt 
her and Billy, Bobby, and Betsy and keep 
them all my life. I wrote John to see 
Miss Lee as soon as possible and beg her 
to give us Elisabeth for our very own.” 


CHAPTER XVII 


GOOD NEWS FOR ALL 


M 


R. THOMSON had promised 


to write to Elisabeth as soon 
as he had seen Miss Lee. One 


day, on her return from school, Elisabeth 
found the long-expected letter awaiting 


her. 


“Read it aloud,” Constance ordered. 

Elisabeth refused. “Let me read it to 
myself first, in my own room. Afterwards 
I’ll bring it to you.” 

“Hurry then, I can’t wait to know what 
they have decided to do with you. Oh, 
Dearwa, Cousin Anne must give you to 


us!” 


Elisabeth returned after a little while 
with such a happy expression that it was 


322 


GOOD NEWS FOR ALL 323 


evident that the letter contained good news. 
She read it aloud to Constance and Mrs. 
Thomson. 

“My Extra Dear Little Girl , 

“I had almost despaired of seeing your 
cousin when she sent for me today. She 
has been critically ill, as you know, but is 
much improved now. I have just returned 
from my interview with her and am writ- 
ing at once as I promised. I was almost 
afraid to send in my card, for you had led 
me to expect some one truly terrifying, and 
when a tall handsome woman with a 
charming manner swept into the room, I 
was sure my card had reached the wrong 
person. But no, she established her iden- 
tity at once, inquiring for you and express- 
ing gratitude to me. Honey, either you 
have done the lady a great injustice or she 
has greatly changed. We had a most 
agreeable chat. She loved your father 
dearly and loves you for his sake. Some 
day she will love you for your own. I 
think the trouble in the past was due to 
misunderstanding on both sides, for she 
has no idea what a dear little girl you 
really are. As soon as we had become 
sufficiently acquainted I asked her the truth 
about the cat which you told me she had 


324 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 


thrown from her room while visiting you. 
I can understand people who have never 
come into intimate contact with animals ex- 
pressing dislike for them, but I can excuse 
cruelty in no one, and I should never dream 
of intrusting a child to a woman who had 
been cruel to a kitten. Miss Lee remem- 
bered the occurrence which had distressed 
her very much. It seems the little creature 
had crept into a package of soiled linen, 
and when Miss Lee threw out her laundry 
she had no idea she was throwing out a cat 
as well. She would have explained the 
matter to you, if you had not behaved as 
though you thought she had hurt the cat on 
purpose. Now, aren’t you sorry! 

“Not to keep you in suspense another 
moment I shall tell you at once her decision 
in regard to you. I begged her to give 
you to us for our very own, to let us adopt 
you and give you our name. She would 
not consent to that but made several impor- 
tant promises. First, that you may remain 
with us as long as she stays abroad, and 
that will be some time, now that she is 
satisfied that you are being well cared for. 
Second, that she will not send you to board- 
ing school but will commit you again to 
our care in case she is ever obliged to leave 
you. Third, that she will not separate 
you from Billy, Bobby, and Betsy, though 


GOOD NEWS FOR ALL 325 


she says it seems almost wicked to her to 
waste time, money, and affection on useless 
animals when so many people are in des- 
perate need. You see, she never stopped 
to consider that animals have rights as 
well as people. As soon as Aunt Jessie 
and the Band of Mercy get hold of her, she 
will realize that we have a responsibility 
toward all creatures dependant upon us for 
their lives. Fourth and last, when she 
takes you to live with her, she will open the 
old family residence which strangely 
enough is just around the corner from us, 
the old vacant house next door to Esther’s 
home. So you see, dear, you will always 
be very near. I am keenly disappointed 
that I may not keep my other little girl 
always in our home, but I understand and 
honor Miss Lee’s feelings in the matter. 
I am happy that at least you will always 
be within reach. You may be sure of this, 
honey, no one can ever take you out of my 
heart. 

“From your loving 
“Uncle John.” 

“Isn’t it a beautiful letter?” Elisabeth 
asked, as she finished reading. 

“Oh, but I wanted you for my own 
sister,” Constance mourned. 


326 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

“I can still be your own Dearwa,” Elisa- 
beth consoled her. “Perhaps Cousin Anne 
has changed. I am glad about the kitten. 
Perhaps she always was nicer than I 
thought. I didn’t believe she would let 
me keep Billy even, and certainly not 
Bobby and Betsy. Aunt Jessie thinks I can 
make her like me if I try. I shall try. 
Isn’t it glorious that I am to live near you 
always? Turning out to have a house so 
near is almost as good as turning out to be a 
relative. I am so happy I could cry. Let’s 
go read the letter to Emily and Aunt Jessie.” 

On the way, Constance remarked 
thoughtfully: “Mother has a secret and I 
can’t find out what it is. She looks so 
happy that I thought perhaps father had 
written her that we could keep you. Of 
course it isn’t that. Sometimes she looks 
troubled and then she begins to smile to her- 
self and won’t tell me why.” 


GOOD NEWS FOR ALL 327 

For once Elisabeth was too much ab- 
sorbed in her own happiness to speculate 
in regard to another’s. “I don’t know,” 
she answered carelessly. “Hurry, I can’t 
wait to tell the Lewises that I am to keep 
my animals and stay in the neighborhood.” 

At Aunt Jessie’s suggestion, Elisabeth 
began to write regularly to Cousin Anne, 
giving her the same intimate details of her 
daily life that she was accustomed to give 
Uncle John and Cousin Kate. The letters 
she received in reply gradually took on a 
warmer tone. It seemed more and more 
possible to Elisabeth that some day she and 
her guardian might become friends. 

Aunt Jessie encouraged her in the 
thought. “Kindness begets kindness, and 
love begets love,” she reminded her. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


ANOTHER MEETING 

T HE Band of Mercy had its an- 
nual meeting early in the spring 
at the Thomson’s home. It was a 
most interesting and enjoyable affair. 

Aunt Jessie had compiled statistics show- 
ing the work accomplished since the or- 
ganization of the club. Sixty two dogs, not 
including litters of puppies, had been res- 
cued from the streets, most of them in a 
starving condition. Of these, eight had 
been returned to grateful owners who had 
made donations to the Band’s treasury, 
twenty-five had been placed in comfortable 
homes where they were visited by a commit- 
tee from time to time, and the rest had been 
humanely disposed of by a veterinarian at 

328 


ANOTHER MEETING 329 

the expense of the Band. An exact record 
of the cats collected had been impossible to 
keep, but Mrs. Lewis stated that no less 
than one hundred, chiefly kittens, had been 
handled by the Band. A few had escaped 
and been lost, but the great majority had 
either been provided with homes or put to 
sleep with chloroform that they might be 
forever relieved of suffering. One hun- 
dred and forty drivers of horses in all parts 
of the city had been asked to allow their 
horses to stand in the shade in summer in- 
stead of in the boiling sun, to discontinue 
beating their animals, to adjust ill-fitting 
harness and bits, to remove blinders press- 
ing against the horse’s eyes, to blanket their 
horses in winter, and have them rough shod 
in slippery weather. 

“Several tradesmen have told me,” Mrs. 
Lewis said, “that they wouldn’t come into 
this neighborhood unless they were sure 


330 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

all was right with their animals, for they 
couldn’t stand to be continually accosted 
and worried.” 

Thirty cases of cruelty to animals had 
been reported to the Humane Society and 
properly dealt with. 

All harmless living creatures in the 
neighborhood had been protected, includ- 
ing small children, birds, toads, fireflies, 
butterflies, and chickens which were not al- 
lowed to be carried by their feet with their 
heads hanging down, nor exposed to the 
weather in outside coops in front of gro- 
cery stores. During illnesses in the neigh- 
borhood, messages had been carried for 
those in need, food distributed, front steps 
and pavements cleaned. Children of ill 
mothers, and pets of ill children had been 
cared for. 

“I am proud of this report,” Aunt Jessie 
said in conclusion, “and of this I am sure, 


ANOTHER MEETING 331 

you boys and girls who have spent eight 
months of your lives in relieving suffering 
will never be willing to inflict it unneces- 
sarily.” 

At every meeting each member had re- 
ported kind acts performed in the inter- 
vening two weeks. A prize had been offered 
to the boy or girl reporting the greatest 
number. Mrs. Lewis had kept a careful 
record. She read the list of names, and 
lo! George’s name led all the rest. 

No one was more surprised than George 
himself. He, like the others, had taken it 
for granted that Elisabeth would win. To 
Elisabeth, however, with her intense love 
of animals and keen sympathy, acts of kind- 
ness were so much a matter of course and 
performed for the most part so uncon- 
sciously that she had reported only very 
unusual events. To George, on the other 
hand, every kind act and merciful deed had 


332 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

been a matter of effort and cause for self- 
congratulation. He had not omitted one 
from his bi-monthly reports. 

Hearty applause followed the announce- 
ment. George had redeemed himself, and 
all were glad that he should receive the 
five dollars since the money would mean 
more to him than to any other member of 
the Band. George was a different boy 
these days. Even the expression of his 
face was changed and though he was still 
pretty ragged he was usually clean. 

The committee of which George was 
chairman brought indictments against sev- 
eral members. 

Harold Graham was severely taken to 
task for having fed his dog chicken bones. 
The dog had convulsions as a result. 
Harold urged in defence that he had not 
known chicken bones were harmful and 
that the dog had begged for them. 


ANOTHER MEETING 333 

“You should have known,” he was told. 
“The idea of owning a dog without learn- 
ing how to feed it. Any bones that 
splinter should not be given dogs no matter 
how much they beg.” 

“I’ll never do it again,” Harold prom- 
ised meekly, “and we had the doctor for 
our dog, and gave him medicine and put 
hot water bottles on him and everything.” 

Gertrude Harris was held to be cruel to 
her dog in that she overfed him. She 
promised to cut down his meals to two a 
day and to diminish the quantity to suit 
his needs, so that he would regain his live- 
liness and lose his eczema. 

James Winter was reprimanded for fail- 
ure to exercise his dog. 

“The idea of keeping him shut up in the 
back yard where he can see nothing that is 
going on, with nothing to do and no one to 
play with! It is not enough to give a dog 


334 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

food, water, and shelter, he, must have exer- 
cise and companionship to be happy.” 

James said that he played with the dog 
every opportunity he had but that he was 
extremely busy at present making up work 
at school. He would, however, procure a 
second dog to play with the first. 

“That will help, but you must spend all 
the time with him that you can.” 

Florence Taylor was found guilty of 
neglecting her two cats. Twice their 
water basin had been found empty, and they 
had been seen several times roaming the 
streets at night. 

“Cats are very thirsty creatures,” she was 
told. “They need fresh water kept where 
they can get to it at all times. Moreover, 
cats should not be allowed out at night. 
They make noises and disturb people’s rest; 
and late in the evening and early in the 
morning they catch drowsy young birds.” 


ANOTHER MEETING 335 

John Milton was informed that he 
would be deprived of his badge and mem- 
bership in the Band so long as his dog was 
kept chained. His excuse that the animal 
frightened tradesmen and visitors from the 
house was not accepted. The dog must 
either be loosed or placed in another home 
where he would be given his liberty. 

“We want to keep him,” John said. “We 
like him, and he is gentle and affectionate 
with us. Besides, he protects the house 
and grounds, so that my baby brother 
doesn’t need a nurse. Will it do if I 
fasten his chain to a long wire in such a way 
that he can run up and down the length 
of the yard, and if I take him for a long 
walk every day?” 

The compromise was agreed to. 

Jimmy Smith was induced to burn his 
gumbo-shooter, although it was used, so he 


336 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

said, to shoot at stones and targets and 
never at birds. 

“A Band of Mercy boy has no business 
with such a thing,” he was told. 

The members voted unanimously to 
keep the Band in existence and new officers 
were elected. Elisabeth refused the nom- 
ination for president. 

“I’d be scared to preside,” she said, 
“especially when we had visitors. I 
think either Constance or Emily should be 
president. They know how better than 
any one else.” 

“We should have a boy for president,” 
several boys contended. 

“No, indeed, the girls should have their 
turn.” 

“I nominate Constance,” Emily said. 
“I’d love to be president myself but mother 
says that wouldn’t be fair because my own 
brother has just served, and I agree with 


ANOTHER MEETING 337 

Elisabeth that Constance would know how 
to preside better than any of the rest of 
you.” 

Constance, to her great delight, was 
elected, and filled the office to the satisfac- 
tion and even admiration of all concerned. 

Ralph was made vice-president, Esther 
secretary, and Elisabeth treasurer. 

It was decided to make a strenuous effort 
to improve the condition of the city pounds 
during the coming year. 

The meeting ended as usual with refresh- 
ments and games. 


CHAPTER XIX 


LOVE ME ; LOVE MY DOG 

F OR two weeks or more Mrs. Thom- 
son acted so queerly that Elisa- 
beth as well as Constance was mys- 
tified. She was restless and abstracted, 
and sometimes cried a little when she 
thought no one was watching. Then 
again she would smile happily to herself 
and refuse the reason. One day she re- 
ceived a telegram, read it, called the little 
girls, and proceeded to laugh and cry at 
the same time. 

“What is it?” Constance besought her. 
“Tell us quick, mother.” 

“Father is back in America, landed to-day, 
will be home the end of the week. My 


338 


LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 339 

little girls, I am so happy and thankful. I 
have needed him so.” 

Constance danced about the room sing- 
ing joyously: “Father is coming home.” 
She threw her arms about her mother 
rapturously, then turned to her little com- 
panion. 

Elisabeth stood perfectly still, her face 
pale, her eyes full of tears. 

“Aren’t you glad?” Constance asked in 
amazement. “Aren’t you?” 

Elisabeth nodded mutely. 

“You are a funny girl, and mother is a 
queer lady, to cry instead of laugh and sing. 
What day will he be here, mother? Why 
has he come? What has happened? 
How long have you known about it? Why 
didn’t you tell us as soon as you knew?” 

“I wanted to spare Elisabeth the worry 
of knowing he was on the ocean. I knew 
you couldn’t keep a secret from her, so I 


340 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

kept it from you both. He expects to 
reach home Friday or Saturday and this is 
only Tuesday. How can we wait?” 

“Can’t we go to New York to meet 
him?” 

“No, he will be in Washington most of 
the time, and too busy to talk to us until 
he gets home. To think that he has really 
landed, that he is safely on this side!” 

The next few days dragged intermin- 
ably. Fortunately, the second telegram an- 
nounced that Mr. Thomson would arrive 
on Friday. Another day’s wait would 
have seemed impossible. Billy was quite 
as excited and restless as the others. Elisa- 
beth had told him the joyful news immedi- 
ately and had given him an old shoe of 
Uncle John’s to smell. There was no 
doubt that he understood what was about 
to happen. 

“Aren’t you coming to the station with 


LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 341 

us?” Constance asked when Friday and 
train time at last came to pass. 

“No,” she answered happily. “When 
Uncle John went away he wrote me a 
good-by note and in it he said for me and 
Billy and Betsy to be waiting on the front 
porch to welcome him home. He didn’t 
mention Bobby, for there was no Bobby 
then, but he’ll expect him just the same.” 

So Elisabeth waited on the porch, her 
three animals beside her, to welcome Uncle 
John. Never since before the tragic ac- 
cident that had left her a lonely little or- 
phan, had she felt so happy. 

At last Uncle John came. Elisabeth 
felt his arms about her, heard his loving 
words of greeting. She could only cling 
to him without a word. Billy sprang for- 
ward to meet him, jumped upon him with 
ardent affection, offered him his paw, 
kissed his hands, his face, every part of him 


342 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

that he could reach, and almost knocked 
him off his feet in his desire to show his 
love and welcome. Betsy did not remem- 
ber him at first and retreated to the back- 
ground to have a good look before she per- 
mitted any familiarity. Bobby was 
puzzled at Billy’s behavior toward this 
strange man. He could not grasp the situ- 
ation, and when every one including his 
own big brother Billy, and his mistress who 
had never neglected him before, left him 
entirely unnoticed to gather about the 
stranger, Bobby retired to a corner and 
wept aloud. Then Elisabeth picked him 
up and placed him in Uncle John’s arms, 
and when he felt the strong arms about him 
and looked up into the kind eyes fixed upon 
his own, and heard himself addressed with 
tender words, then Bobby understood that 
this man was no stranger but a friend. 

Seated in hi9 great arm chair with a 


LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 343 

little girl on each knee, the dogs and cats 
at his feet, and his wife sitting opposite, her 
eyes fixed lovingly upon him, Mr. Thom- 
son told the long story of his months abroad. 
No one ever had a more interested au- 
dience. Then, he in his turn, listened to the 
story of the others. For the first time he 
heard of Constance’s serious illness and 
held her close in silent thankfulness. 

“It was Elisabeth who saved her for us, 
Elisabeth and Billy,” Mrs. Thomson said 
with a loving look at the little companion 
and her dog. “I have but one regret, that 
Miss Lee will not give Elisabeth to us for 
our own. 

“She could not do that and keep her 
promise to Elisabeth’s father, made when 
Elisabeth was born. But it is good to 
know that she will never take her far from 
us. The more I saw of your cousin, little 
girl, the more I liked her, and the more I 


344 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

understood why you did not. She is a 
fine woman but she is not patient. She has 
an idea that children should be brought up 
as they are abroad to be neither seen nor 
heard, and that they are companionable only 
after they are grown. She will learn to 
feel differently about many things after 
she has settled down among us for a while. 
You will be proud to belong to her, Elisa- 
beth, when I tell you of the wonderful 
work she has accomplished over seas, and 
some day when you come to know and ap- 
preciate her properly you will love her 
with all your heart.” 

“ I hope she will like me, some day,” 
Elisabeth answered soberly. “It is nice, 
isn’t it, how everything has turned out? 
Aunt Harriet and Constance both want to 
keep me and my animals; and even when 
Cousin Anne comes back my home will 
always be near, so that I can still be your 


LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 345 

little girl. Now that you have come home 
safe and sound, I am very happy.” 

“Do you know why every thing has 
turned out so happily, dear? It is because 
you have remembered ‘to try to be kind to 
every living creature.’ ” 

“I have tried, too,” Constance said. 

“I can tell that is true by looking into 
your face, little daughter. There is more 
sweetness in it than ever before.” 

Elisabeth bent down to pat the dogs, per- 
haps also to hide the tears that would come 
into her eyes. 

“Until I found Bobby,” she said, “I 
didn’t know how much I could love an- 
other dog. Of course I can never love 
him quite as I love Billy. He hasn’t been 
with me ever since I can remember as 
Billy has. He never knew my father and 
mother, and he hasn’t taken care of me and 
comforted me like Billy. But I love 


346 LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG 

Bobby very dearly and I feel that he be- 
longs to me just exactly the way that Billy 
does. I thought perhaps,” she continued 
shyly, looking up into Mr. Thomson’s kind 
eyes for courage, “that you might feel the 
same way about having another little girl. 
I mean, me.” 

Mr. Thomson kissed her tenderly. 
“It is exactly so,” he said. 


THE END 


Selections from 
The Page Company’s 
Books for Young People 

THE BLUE BONNET SERIES 

Each large 12mo, cloth decorative , illustrated, 

; per volume ....... $1.75 

A TEXAS BLUE BONNET 

By Caroline E. Jacobs. 

“ The book’s heroine, Blue Bonnet, has the very finest 
kind of wholesome, honest, lively girlishness.” — Chicago 
Inter-Ocean. 

BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY 

By Caroline E. Jacobs and Edyth Ellerbeck Read. 
“ A healthy, natural atmosphere breathes from every 
chapter.” — Boston Transcript. 

BLUE BONNET IN BOSTON 

By Caroline E. Jacobs and Lela Horn Richards. 
“It is bound to become popular because of its whole- 
someness and its many human touches.” — Boston Globe. 

BLUE BONNET KEEPS HOUSE 

By Caroline E. Jacobs and Lela Horn Richards. 

“ It cannot fail to prove fascinating to girls in their 
teens.” — New York Sun. 

BLUE BONNET — DEBUTANTE 

By Lela Horn Richards. 

An interesting picture of the unfolding of life for 
Blue Bonnet. 

BLUE BONNET OF THE SEVEN STARS 

By Lela Horn Richards. 

“The author’s intimate detail and charm of narration 
gives the reader an interesting story of the heroine’s war 
activities.” — Pittsburgh Leader. 

A — 1 


THE PAGE COMPANY'S 


THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES 

By Harrison Adams 

Each 12mo , doth decorative, illustrated , per 
volume $1.65 

THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO; Ob, 

Clearing the Wilderness. 

“ Such books as this are an admirable means of stimu- 
lating among the young Americans of to-day interest in 
the story of their pioneer ancestors and the early days of 
the Republic. ,, — Boston Globe. 

THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES; 

Or, On the Trail of the Iroquois. 

“ The recital of the_ daring deeds of the frontier is not 
only interesting but instructive as well and shows the 
sterling type of character which these days of self-reliance 
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THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI; 

Or, The Homestead in the Wilderness. 

“The story is told with spirit, and is full of adven- 
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THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSOURI; 

On, In the Country of the Sioux. 

“ Vivid in style, vigorous in movement, full of dramatic 
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City. 

THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOW- 
STONE; Or, Lost in the Land of Wonders. 
“There is plenty of lively adventure and action and 
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THE PIONEER BOYS OF. THE COLUMBIA; 

Or, In the Wilderness of the Great Northwest. 

“ The story is full of spirited action and contains much 
valuable historical information.” — Boston Herald. 

A— 2 


BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE HADLEY HALL SERIES 

By Louise M. Breitenbacii 
Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, 
per volume . . . . . . • $ 1.65 

ALMA AT HADLEY HALL 

“ The author is to be congratulated on having written 
such an appealing book for girls.” — Detroit Free Press. 

ALMA’S SOPHOMORE YEAR 

“ It cannot fail to appeal to the lovers of good things 
in girls’ books.” — Boston Herald. 

ALMA’S JUNIOR YEAR 

“ The diverse characters in the boarding-school are 
strongly drawn, the incidents are well developed and the 
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ALMA’S SENIOR YEAR 

“ A healthy, natural atmosphere breathes from every 
chapter.” — Boston Transcript. 


THE GIRLS OF 
FRIENDLY TERRACE SERIES 

By Harriet Lummis Smith 
Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, 
per volume . . . . . . . $1.65 

THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE 

“A book sure to please girl readers, for the author 
seems to understand perfectly the girl character.” — 
Boston Globe. 

PEGGY RAYMOND’S VACATION 

“It is a wholesome, hearty story.” — Utica Observer. 

PEGGY RAYMOND’S SCHOOL DAYS 

The book is delightfully written, and contains lots of 
exciting incidents. 

THE FRIENDLY TERRACE QUARTETTE 

These four lively girls found their opportunities t© 
serve their country. The story of their adventures will 
bring anew to every girl who reads about them the reali- 
zation of what she owes to her country. 

A — 8 


THE PAGE COMP ANTS 


FAMOUS LEADERS SERIES 

By Charles H. L. Johnston 
Each large 12mo , cloth decorative } illustrated , 
per volume $9.00 

FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS 

“ More of such books should be written, books that 
acquaint young readers with historical personages in a 
pleasant, informal way.” — New York Sun. 

FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS 

“ Mr. J ohnston has done faithful work in this volume, 
and his relation of battles, sieges and struggles of these 
famous Indians with the whites for the possession of 
America is a worthy addition to United States History.” 
— New York Marine Journal. 

FAMOUS SCOUTS 

“ It is the kind of a book that will have a great fascina- 
tion for boys and young men.” — New London Day. 

FAMOUS PRIVATEERSMEN AND ADVEN- 
TURERS OF THE SEA 

“The tales are more than merely interesting; they are 
entrancing, stirring the blood with thrilling force.” — 
Pittsburgh Post. 

FAMOUS FRONTIERSMEN AND HEROES OF 
THE BORDER 

“The accounts are not only authentic, but distinctly 
readable, making a book of wide appeal to all who love 
the history of actual adventure.” — Cleveland Leader. 

FAMOUS DISCOVERERS AND EXPLORERS 
OF AMERICA 

“ The book is an epitome of some of the wildest and 
bravest adventures of which the world has known.” — 
Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 

FAMOUS GENERALS OF THE GREAT WAR 

Who Led the United States and Her Allies to a Glo- 
rious Victory. 

“The pages of this book have the charm of romance 
without its unreality. The book illuminates, with life- 
like portraits, the history of the World War.” — Roches • 
ter Post Express. 

A — 4 


BOORS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


HiLDEGARDE- MARGARET SERIES 

By Laura E. Richards 
Eleven Volumes 

The Hildegarde-Margaret Series, beginning with 
“ Queen Hildegarde ” and ending with “ The Merrv- 
weathers,” make one of the best and most popular series 
of books for girls ever written. 

Each large 12mo, cloth decorative , illustrated, 

per volume $1.75 

The eleven volumes boxed as a set . • $19.25 

LIST OF TITLES 

QUEEN HILDEGARDE 

HILDEGARDE’S HOLIDAY 

HILDEGARDE’S HOME 

HILDEGARDE’S NEIGHBORS 

HILDEGARDE’S HARVEST 

THREE MARGARETS 

MARGARET MONTFORT 

PEGGY 

RITA 

FERNLEY HOUSE 

THE MERRYWEATHBR8 
A— 5 


THE PAGE COMPANY'S 


THE CAPTAIN JANUARY SERIES 

By Laura E. Richards 

Each one volume, 12mo, cloth decorative, illus- 
trated, per volume 90 cents 

CAPTAIN JANUARY 

A charming idyl of New England coast life, whose 
success has been very remarkable. 

SAME. Illustrated Holiday Edition . . $1.35 

MELODY: The Stort of a Child. 

MARIE 

A companion to “Melody” and A Captain January.” 

ROSIN THE BEAU 

A sequel to “ Melody ” and “ Marie.” 

SNOW-WHITE} Or, The House in the Wood. 

JIM OF HELLAS ; Or, In Durance Vile, and a 
companion story, Bethesda Pool. 

NARCISSA 

And a companion story, In Verona, being two delight- 
ful short stories of New England life. 

“ SOME SAY” 

And a companion story. Neighbors in Cyrus. 

NAUTILUS 

“ ‘ N autilus ’ is by far the best product of the author’s 
powers, and is certain to achieve the wide success it so 
richly merits.” 

ISLA HERON 

This interesting story is written in the author’s usual 
charming manner. 


A— 6 


BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


DELIGHTFUL BOOKS FOR LITTLE 
FOLKS 

By Laura E. Richards 

THREE MINUTE STORIES 

Cloth decorative, 12mo, with eight plates in full color 
and many text illustrations . . . . $1.75 

“ Little ones will understand and delight in the stories 
and poems.” — Indianapolis News. 

FIVE MINUTE STORIES 

Cloth decorative, square 12mo, illustrated . $1.75 

A charming collection of short stories and clever 
poems for children. 

MORE FIVE MINUTE STORIES 

Cloth decorative, square 12mo, illustrated . $1.75 

A noteworthy collection of short stories and poems 
for children, which will prove as popular with mothers 
as with boys and girls. 

FIVE MICE IN A MOUSE TRAP 

Cloth decorative, square 12mo, illustrated . $1.75 

The story of their lives and other wonderful things 
related by the Man in the Moon, done in the vernacular 
from the lunacular form by Laura E. Richards. 


A NEW BOOK FOR GIRLS 

By Laura E. Richards 

HONOR BRIGHT 

Cloth decorative, 12mo, illustrated . . . $1.75 

No girl ever deserved more to have a series of stories 
written about her than does HONOR BRIGHT, the new- 
est heroine of a talented author who has created many 
charming girls. Born of American parents who die 
in the far East, Honor spends her school days at the 
Pension Madeline in Vevey, Switzerland, surrounded by 
playmates of half a dozen nationalities. As are all of 
Mrs. Richards’ heroines, HONOR BRIGHT is the high- 
est type of the young girl of America, with all the in- 
dependence of character which is American to the core 
in young as in old. 

A — 7 


TUB PAGE COMPANY’S 


THE BOYS’ STORY OF THE 
RAILROAD SERIES 

By Burton E. Stevenson 
Each large 12mo, cloth decorative , illustrated, 
per volume $1.75 

THE YOUNG SECTION-HAND; Or, The Ad- 
ventures of Allan West. 

“ The whole range of section railroading is covered in 
the story.” — Chicago Post. 

THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER 

“ A vivacious account of the varied and often hazard- 
ous nature of railroad life.” — Congregationalist. 

THE YOUNG TRAIN MASTER 

“ It is a book that can be unreservedly commended to 
anyone who loves a good, wholesome, thrilling, informing 
yarn.” — Passaic News. 

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; Or, Allan West’s 
Chum. 

“ The story is intensely interesting.” — Baltimore Sun. 

BOY SCOUT STORIES 

By Brewer Corcoran 

Published with the approval of “ The Boy Scouts of 
A merica.” 

Each, one volume, 12mo, cloth decorative, illus- 
trated, per volume $1.75 

THE BOY SCOUTS OF KENDALLVILLE 

The story of a bright young factory worker who can- 
not enlist, but his knowledge of woodcraft and wig- 
wagging, gained through Scout practice, enables him to 
foil a German plot to blow up the munitions factory. 

THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE WOLF PATROL 

The boys of Gillfield who were not old enough to go 
to war found just as many thrills at home, chasing a 
German spy. 

THE BOY SCOUTS AT CAMP LOWELL 

“The best book for boys I have ever read! ’’.says our 
editor. Mr. Corcoran has again found enough exciting 
material to keep the plot humming from cover to cover. 
A — 8 


BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 


THE MARJORY-JOE SERIES 

By Alice E. Allex 

Each one volume, cloth decorative, 12mo, 
illustrated, per volume $1.50 

JOE, THE CIRCUS BOY AND ROSEMARY 

These are two of Miss Allen’s earliest and most suc- 
cessful stories, combined in a single volume to meet the 
insistent demands from young people for these two par- 
ticular tales. 


THE MARTIE TWINS: Continuing the Ad- 
ventures of Joe, the Circus Boy 

“The chief charm of the story is that it contains so 
much of human nature. It is so real that it touches 
the heart strings.” — New York Standard. 

MARJORY, THE CIRCUS GIRL 

A sequel to “Joe, the Circus Boy,” and “The Martie 
Twins.” 


MARJORY AT THE WILLOWS 

Continuing the story of Marjory, the Circus Girl. 

“ Miss Allen does not write impossible stories, but de- 
lightfully pins her little folk right down to this life of 
ours, in which she ranges vigorously and delightfully.” 

— Boston Ideas. 

MARJORY’S HOUSE PARTY: Or, What Hap- 
pened at Clover Patch 

“ Miss Allen certainly knows how to please the chil- 
dren and tells them stories that never fail to charm.” 

— Madison Courier. 

A — 9 


THE PAGE COMPANY’S 


IDEAL BOOKS FOR GIRLS 

Each , one volume , cloth decorative, 12mo, . $1.10 

A LITTLE CANDY BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL 

By Amy L. Waterman. 

“ This is a peculiarly interesting little book, written in 
the simple, vivacious style that makes these little manuals 
as delightful to read as they are instructive.” — Nash- 
ville Tennessean and American. 

A LITTLE COOK-BOOK FOR A LITTLE GIRL 

By Caroline French Benton. 

This book explains how to cook so simply that no one 
can fail to understand every word, even a complete 
novice. 

A LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING BOOK FOR A 
LITTLE GIRL 

By Caroline French Benton. 

A little girl, home from school on Saturday mornings, 
finds out how to make helpful use of her spare time, and 
also how to take proper pride and pleasure in good 
housework. 

A LITTLE SEWING BOOK FOR A LITTLE 
GIRL 

By Louise Frances Cornell. 

“ It is comprehensive and practical, and yet revealingly 
instructive. It takes a little girl who lives alone with 
her mother, and shows how her mother taught her the 
art of sewing in its various branches. The illustrations 
aid materially.” — Wilmington Every Evening. 

A LITTLE PRESERVING BOOK FOR A 
LITTLE GIRL 

By Amy L. Waterman. 

In simple, clear wording, Mrs. Waterman explains 
every step of the process of preserving or “canning” 
fruits and vegetables. 

A LITTLE GARDENING BOOK FOR A LITTLE 
GIRL 

By Peter Martin. 

This little volume is an excellent guide for the young 
gardener. In addition to truck gardening, the book gives 
valuable information on flowers, the planning of the 
garden, selection of varieties, etc. 

A — 10 


BOOKS FOR rovm PEOPLE 


THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS 

(Trade Mark) 

By Annie Fellows Johnston 
Each large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per volume . $1.90 

THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES 

(Trade Mark) 

Being three “ Little Colonel ” stories in the Cosy Comer 
Series, “ The Little Colonel,” “ Two Little Knights of 
Kentucky,” and “ The Giant Scissors,” in a single volume. 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HOUSE PARTY 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HOLIDAYS 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S HERO 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING- 

(Trade Mark) 

SCHOOL 

THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S CHRISTMAS 

(Trade Mark) 

VACATION 

THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOR 

(Trade Mark) 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S KNIGHT COMES 

(Trade Mark) 

RIDING 

THE LITTLE COLONEL’S CHUM, MARY 

WARE (Trade Mark) 

MARY WARE IN TEXAS 
MARY WARE’S PROMISED LAND 

These twelve volumes, boxed as a set, $22.80. 

A — 11 


THE PAGE COMPANY’S 


THE ROAD OF THE LOVING HEART 

Cloth decorative , with special designs and 

illustrations $1.25 

In choosing her title, Mrs. Johnston had in mind 
“ The Road of the Loving Heart,” that famous high- 
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ment to the home of Robert Louis Stevenson, as a 
memorial of their love and respect for the man who 
lived and labored among them, and whose example of 
a loving heart has never been forgotten. This story of 
a little princess and her faithful pet bear, who finally 
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thought. 

THE JOHNSTON JEWEL SERIES 

Each small 16mo, cloth decorative, with frontis- 
piece and decorative text borders, per volume $0.75 

IN THE DESERT OF WAITING: The Legexd 
of Camelback Mountain. 

THE THREE WEAVERS: A Fairy Tale for 
Fathers and Mothers as Well as for Their 
Daughters. 

KEEPING TRYST : A Tale of King Arthur’s Time. 

THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART 
THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME: 

A Fairy Play for Old and Young. 

THE JESTER’S SWORD 


THE LITTLE COLONEL’S GOOD TIMES 
BOOK 

Uniform in size with the Little Colonel Series . $2.50 

Bound in white kid (morocco) and gold . . 5.00 

Cover design and decorations by Peter Verberg. 

“ A mighty attractive volume in which the owner may 
record the good times she has on decorated pages, and 
under the directions as it were of Annie Fellows John- 
ston.” — Buffalo Express. 

A — 12 







































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